President Dissanayake Unveils 21-Member Cabinet Ahead of Sweeping Reforms
Colombo, Sri Lanka - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a 21-member cabinet ahead of sweeping reforms aimed at fighting corruption and implementing his campaign promise of a new constitution.
In a surprise move, Dissanayake reappointed veteran politician Harini Amarasuriya as Prime Minister, marking her second stint in the office and making her the first woman to head the national government in 24 years.
Amarasuriya will oversee education, higher education, and vocational training, among other portfolios, while Vijitha Herath was appointed Foreign Minister, Ananda Wijepala took over Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, and Bimal Rathnayake became Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister.
The appointment comes as Sri Lanka continues to emerge from its worst economic crisis, triggered by a severe shortage of foreign currency that pushed the country into a sovereign default. The nation has been undergoing a financial programme by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 2022.
Dissanayake's decision to appoint a new cabinet marks a significant shift in his administration's policy direction, as the leader has vowed to tackle corruption and implement comprehensive reforms. The new government can now amend the constitution, pending a referendum promised by Dissanayake's National People's Power (NPP) coalition.
"We must ensure that this absolute power does not corrupt us absolutely," Dissanayake said at the swearing-in ceremony. "This huge power that has been given to us must be exercised with responsibility, to fulfil the aspirations of the people who had been oppressed economically and politically for too long."
The NPP won a landslide majority in last week's parliamentary elections, securing 159 seats in the 225-member house – representing a comfortable two-thirds majority. The government will now focus on preparing a budget for 2025 in line with its IMF bailout deal.
An IMF delegation is currently on a weeklong trip to Sri Lanka to hold talks with the new government and conduct a third review of the nation's economic reform programme, worth $2.9bn.