President Dissanayake Unveils 21-Member Cabinet, Pledges Reforms in Post-Election Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a 21-member cabinet, days after his National People's Power (NPP) coalition won a landslide majority in the snap parliamentary elections. Harini Amarasuriya continues as Prime Minister, tasked with implementing reforms, including a new constitution.

In a surprise move, the President retained key portfolios of Defence and Finance under the new cabinet. The government plans to pass sweeping reforms to end corruption, which has plagued Sri Lanka since its worst-economic crisis triggered by foreign currency shortages, leading to a sovereign default in 2022.

Dissanayake's coalition secured 159 seats in the 225-member parliament last week, surpassing the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution. The President had promised a referendum on a new constitution during his campaign.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Secretariat, where Dissanayake pledged that "absolute power" must be exercised with responsibility to fulfil the aspirations of the oppressed people.

Amarasuriya, the first female Prime Minister in 24 years, will oversee education, higher education, and vocational training. Other key appointments include Vijitha Herath as Foreign Minister, Ananda Wijepala as Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and Bimal Rathnayake as Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister.

Dissanayake's coalition has been accused of being a family party-dominated institution for decades. The new cabinet brings in fresh faces to the government.

With 159 seats, Dissanayake can now amend the constitution, which he claims will "ensure social justice" in Sri Lanka. The new government must prepare its budget for 2025 according to the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured by the previous government.

An IMF delegation is currently visiting Sri Lanka to hold talks with the new government as well as conduct a third review of the country's economic reform program valued at $2.9 billion.