NATION

Sri Lanka's President Announces 21-Member Cabinet Amid Plans for Sweeping Reforms

In Desk

Nov 18, 2024 • 1 min read

Colombo, Sri Lanka - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has picked a 21-member cabinet, retaining key portfolios and planning sweeping reforms, including a campaign promise of a new constitution.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Monday, marking the beginning of a new era for Sri Lanka. President Dissanayake, 55, is a left-leaning leader who won last week's snap parliamentary elections with his National People's Power (NPP) coalition, securing an impressive two-thirds majority.

In his speech, President Dissanayake vowed to utilize his newfound power responsibly, ensuring that sweeping reforms do not compromise the nation's democratic values. This comes as Sri Lanka continues to recover from its worst economic crisis, triggered by a severe shortage of foreign currency that led to a sovereign default and a shrinking economy in 2022.

Among the notable appointments are Harini Amarasuriya, who has been reappointed as the prime minister, and Vijitha Herath, who will serve as foreign minister. The new cabinet also includes Ananda Wijepala as public security and parliamentary affairs minister and Bimal Rathnayake as transport, highways, ports, and civil aviation minister.

The NPP coalition, which had just three seats in parliament before the elections, surprised many with its landslide victory. With 159 seats secured, President Dissanayake now has the mandate to amend the constitution, a promise he made during his campaign.

President Dissanayake stated that the huge power given to him must be exercised responsibly and fulfill the aspirations of a nation that has long been oppressed economically and politically.

The new government is expected to prepare a budget for 2025 in line with its ongoing IMF bailout program. An IMF delegation is currently on a weeklong trip to the island to hold talks with the new government and conduct a third review of Sri Lanka's economic reform program, worth $2.9 billion.

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