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

Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced the formation of a new 21-member cabinet as part of his efforts to implement sweeping reforms and address the country's growing economic crisis.

In a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, Dissanayake named Harini Amarasuriya, an educationist, as the country's prime minister, retaining key positions from her previous stint. Amarasuriya will also oversee the ministries of education, higher education, and vocational training.

The new cabinet is seen as a significant move by Dissanayake, who has been in power for five years, to tackle corruption and implement long-awaited reforms, including a proposed new constitution. The move coincides with Sri Lanka's most severe economic crisis in decades, triggered by a foreign currency shortage that led to the country's sovereign default.

The landslide victory of Dissanayake's left-leaning National People's Power (NPP) coalition in last week's snap parliamentary elections has given him a two-thirds majority in parliament, allowing him to amend the constitution without the need for further approvals. The NPP had promised a referendum on a new constitution as part of their campaign promises.

Dissanayake expressed his determination to utilize his newfound power responsibly and fulfill the aspirations of the people who have suffered economically and politically. "We must ensure that this absolute power does not corrupt us absolutely," he said during the swearing-in ceremony.

The new government is expected to prepare a budget for 2025 in line with Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion IMF bailout program, while also engaging in talks with an IMF delegation to address economic reform concerns.

Sri Lankan President Installs 21-Member Cabinet Amid Plans for Sweeping Reforms