Eighteen Cabinet Ministers were sworn in by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.
This was the second Cabinet reshuffle that took place within the first four months of the year. Also, four acting Cabinet Ministers were sworn in on April 12 following the resignation of six SLFP Cabinet Ministers.
At today’s reshuffle, former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who was sacked from the portfolio in August last year, was appointed as the Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs.
The Higher Education portfolio was previously held by Minister Kabir Hashim who was appointed as the Minister of Highways and Road Development today.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka who was the Regional Development Minister, was sworn in as the Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development.
UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, who was the Fisheries Minister, was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture while SLFP General Secretary who was the Minister of Agriculture was appointed as the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Disaster Management.
Meanwhile, the two portfolios of Social Empowerment and Labour Relations which were previously held by UPFA Ministers, were given to two UNP Ministers.
Accordingly, UNP Ministers P. Harrison was appointed as the Minister of Social Empowerment while Ravindra Samaraweera was appointed as the Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations.
Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha who was the acting Minister of Sports, was sworn in as the Provincial Councils and Local Government and Sports Minister.
| 01 | Lakshman Kiriella | Minister of Public Enterprise and Kandy Development |
| 02 | Sarath Amunugama | Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training, and Hill Country Heritage |
| 03 | S. B Navinna | Minister of Internal Affairs and Wayamba Development |
| 04 | Mahinda Amaraweera | Minister of Agriculture |
| 05 | Duminda Dissanayake | Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Disaster Management |
| 06 | P. Harrison | Minister of Social Empowerment |
| 07 | Kabir Hashim | Minister of Highways and Road Development |
| 08 | Ranjith Maddumabandara | Minister of Public Administration and Management, Minister of Law and Order |
| 09 | Thalatha Athukorala | Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms |
| 10 | Faiszer Musthapha | Minister of Sports, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government |
| 11 | Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa | Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy |
| 12 | D.M. Swaminathan | Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement, Northern Development and Hindu Religious Affairs |
| 13 | Sagala Ratnayake | Minister of Project Management, Youth Affairs and Southern Development |
| 14 | Mano Ganesan | Minister of National Co-existence, Reconciliation and Official Languages |
| 15 | Daya Gamage | Minister of Social Welfare and Primary Industries |
| 16 | Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka | Minister of Sustainable Development , Wildlife and Regional Development |
| 17 | Ravindra Samaraweera | Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations |
| 18 | Wijedasa Rajapakshe | Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs |