Thirty five deputy ministers appointed
[TamilNet, Friday, 03 November 2000, 18:51 GMT]
Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga Friday appointed 35 Deputy Ministers to her newly formed coalition government. The new deputy ministers were sworn in at 'Temple Trees', the official residence of the President at 6.30 p.m. Friday.
Three were appointed from the National United Alliance, a major ally of the ruling People's Alliance. The Eelam Peoples Democratic Party was not given any junior minister posts. Deputy Minister posts for Defense, Finance and Media are yet to be announced. President Kumaratunga holds the finance and defence portfolios in the 46 member cabinet. Failure to appoint a Deputy Minister for Defence has once again fuelled the speculation that General Anuruddha Ratwatte would not get that post in the near future. Gen. Ratwatte was the Deputy Defence Minister during the previous PA government.
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