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Sri Lanka's New Cabinet to be Sworn in Amid Horsetrading
Sri Lanka's new government is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday as horsetrading is under way between the ruling People's Alliance (PA) and its minority allies, government sources said Monday.
The second PA government, after the October 10 general elections, will comprise some 35 ministers, said the sources, adding that the Cabinet of Ministers has to have such a large number of ministers as the PA is a coalition of several parties all of whom have to be accommodated.
The 11th general elections saw the PA securing 107 seats in the 225-seat parliament, short of the 113-seat simple majority required to form a new government.
However, the PA managed to muster 116 seats to form a coalition government after securing support from the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and an independent group.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was sworn in for a second term last Friday before President Chandrika Kumaratunga at Temple Trees, the official presidential residence in Colombo.
Government sources said President Kumaratunga is likely to retain the key Finance and Defense portfolios. The Deputy Defense portfolio is likely to be taken back from General Anuruddha Ratwatte and handed over to Prime Minister Wickremanayake.
General Ratwatte may also lose the portfolio of Power and Energy which he also held in the previous PA government. The portfolio is sought by the NUA which has 10 seats including six seats on the list of the PA and have been promised two ministerial and three deputy ministerial portfolios.
The NUA also want the portfolio of Transport and Highways which was held by senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.
The EPDP which has won four seats, the other new partner in the PA government, has been promised one portfolio but it is seeking the additional portfolio of Northern Rehabilitation and Tamil Affairs.
Three dissent members of the main opposition United National Party Sarath Amunugama, Wijepala Mendis and Ronnie de Mel will also be accommodated in the cabinet.
The new parliament is also due to meet on Wednesday and the newly elected members will take their oaths.
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