New cabinet to be sworn in on Tuesday

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 November 2005, 17:33 GMT]
New Cabinet of Ministers will be sworn in on Tuesday and all constituent political parties of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will be represented in the new Cabinet, Minister and Cabinet spokesman Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva said at a press briefing held at the Presidential Secretarial Saturday evening.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party, National Unity Alliance, Sri Lanka Communist Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Eelam Peoples Democratic Party are the constituents of the UPFA.

Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva said the new budget under the leadership of the new government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse will be presented in parliament based on "Mahinda Vision."

At the meeting of leaders of all political parties represented in the parliament scheduled to be held on Monday, with the Speaker in the chair, a decision to annul the budget presented by Finance Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama few days before the presidential election will be taken, Cabinet spokesman further said.

The Sri Lanka Parliament meets on Tuesday for the first time after the election of new Executive President.

Mr.Susil Premajayanth, currently holding the post of Power and Energy, is likely to be appointed as the new Prime Minister, parliamentary sources from Colombo said.

Four JVP parliamentarians are likely to be appointed in the new cabinet. Mr.Douglas Devananda of EPDP and Ms ferial Ashraff are likely to retain their ministry portfolios in the new cabinet, UPFA sources said.

Meanwhile, Mr.Lalith Weeratunge has been appointed as the Secretary to the new President Mahinda Rajapakse. Mr.Lalith Weeratunge is currently holding the post of Secretary to the Prime Minister, sources said.