New Cabinet will be sworn in after SLFP’s decision - Rajitha

A new Cabinet of Ministers will be sworn in within the next two days after the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) informs its decision today, says Co-cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne. 

Responding to question at the weekly cabinet press briefing in Colombo today (11), he stated that it will not be a Cabinet reshuffle, and that a new Cabinet will be sworn in before April 14.  

He also stated that there will be no change in the number of members in the Cabinet and that it will remain as 45.  

He stated that although it is a new Cabinet, not all ministerial portfolios will be changed. The subjects have been prepared scientifically and most ministers have already been placed in them, but it will be sworn in as a new Cabinet.  

He clarified that although the there will be no change to the subjects, they will be sworn in once again. 

Responding to another question, he said that the President had initially stated that a group will be leaving and that those vacant positions will be filled while creating a new Cabinet. 

“Our stance is that those who went against the Prime Minister cannot stay in this Cabinet,” Senaratne said. 

He stated that the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is expected to deliver its decision today.  

The Health Minister said that after the said group of ministers leave, the six vacant positions in the Cabinet will also be filled from the remaining members of the SLFP. 

The Central Committee of the SLFP is scheduled to meet later today to decide on its future with the national government as well as the ministers who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against the PM.