SLMC, EPDP get plum portfolios

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 October 2000, 06:29 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Thursday cemented her party's coalition government by offering plum portfolios to her minority allies. The leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, Mr. Douglas Devananda, was sworn in as the Minister for Northern Rehabilitation and Northeastern Tamil Affairs Thursday and co-leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim was given the plum portfolio of Internal, External Trade, Shipping and Muslim Affairs. Northeastern Tamil affairs is a new portfolio in the cabinet.

Another powerful member of the new coalition government, Mr.Dinesh Gunwardena, the outspoken Sinhala Nationalist leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Eksath Peramuna was made Minister of Transport.

Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar was sworn in again as the Foreign Minister while Gen.Anuruddha Ratwatte was given Irrigation and Power, the portfolio he held in the last government. The government is yet to announce the deputy ministers.

Mr.A.H.M Fowzie was made the Minister of Highways and Prof.G.L Pieris, the Minister for Industries.