Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa became the only member of the Rajapaksa family to retain a cabinet position as his older brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, swore in 17 ministers on Monday as Sri Lanka goes through its worst economic crisis.
Gotabaya swore in a 17-member cabinet on Monday in addition to the three ministers he had earlier appointed. The composition of the cabinet means there are no posts for other clan members: Chamal Rajapaksa and Mahinda’s son Namal Rajapaksa, both of whom were cabinet ministers, and nephew Shasheendra who was a state minister.
The appointment of the new cabinet comes after weeks of protests, led by the opposition against the Gotabaya regime. The opposition had declined Gotabaya's offer to form a government of national unity.
According to Sri Lankan media outlet Colombo Page, “This is the third cabinet reshuffle under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. While the new cabinet consists of eight former ministers, it will have a number of new faces.”
People continued to be in fuel and gas queues while the power cuts, which were not imposed during the weekend on account of the traditional Sinhala and Tamil new year, returned on Monday. The state power entity said there will be four-and-half-hour power cuts on Monday.
Adding to public woes is the Lanka Indian oil company (LIOC) announcement of further price hikes for petrol and diesel with effect from Sunday midnight. The LIOC raised fuel prices for the fourth time since February. A spokesman for the LIOC said the price hike was necessary due to the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee. Sri Lanka rupees had fallen by over 60 per cent till March 7 when the flexible exchange rate was announced.
The price of Octane 92 has been raised by over 10 per cent to a record high of 338 rupees per litre while diesel at 289 rupees per litre has seen a 35 per cent increase.
New ministers and their portfolios
Dinesh Gunawardena: Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government
Douglas Devananda: Fisheries
Ramesh Pathirana: Education and Plantation Industries
Prasanna Ranatunga: Public Security and Tourism
Dilum Amunugama: Transport and Industries
Kanaka Herath: Highways
Vidura Wickramanayaka: Labour
Janaka Wakkumbura: Agriculture and Irrigation
Shehan Semasinghe: Trade and Samurdhi Development
Mohan Priyadharshana de Silva: Water Supply
Wimalaweera Dissanayake: Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation
Kanchana Wijesekara: Power and Energy
Thenuka Vidanagamage: Sports and Youth Affairs
Nalaka Godahewa: Media
Channa Jayasumana: Health
Naseer Ahamed: Environment
Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon: Ports and Shipping
