Mahinda to expand cabinet

24 April 2010 03:22 pm - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa will expand his new cabinet by five ministers but the government will still have far fewer members than the previous one, an official source said today, according to AFP.

President Mahinda Rajapakse, whose ruling United People's Freedom Alliance took victory in this month's parliamentary election, will bring in five more cabinet ministers and one deputy minister soon, the official said.

His cabinet, sworn in Friday, currently numbers 37 excluding the president himself, who holds the defence, finance, ports and highways portfolios.

Rajapakse was re-elected for a second term in presidential polls in January and cemented his grip on power when his ruling coalition won 144 seats in the 225-member parliament two weeks ago.

"There will be three more ministers from the (central) Kandy district and two more from elsewhere," the source said, declining to be named, AFP reported.

The five had not been named to the cabinet in Friday's announcement due to "technicalities" and would be sworn in within a few days, he said.

The cabinet is far smaller than the record 109 ministers and deputy ministers in the last government, which had been lambasted as cumbersome and wasteful.

Rajapakse had promised a leaner administration while campaigning in the parliamentary elections, but his family retains its prominent role.

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Comments - 24

Saturday, 24 April 2010 11:52 PM

Sri-Lanka won't see much development and will remain poor and miserable

Monday, 26 April 2010 07:11 AM

Circus of clowns & puppets!

Monday, 26 April 2010 07:07 AM

never!

Monday, 26 April 2010 05:33 AM

Sri Lanka compared to the size and population needs only about 20 ministers and an equal number of deputies to administer the country effectively.

Monday, 26 April 2010 04:22 AM

so many ministers, deputy ministers, their secretaries,
security personnel , drivers of the vehicles and entourage all on taxpayer account.

Monday, 26 April 2010 03:27 AM

100 is less than 101, Surely the promise will be kept.

Monday, 26 April 2010 02:34 AM

as the time goes it will expand further. Already it goes beyond 80.

Sunday, 25 April 2010 10:41 AM

First election promise broken

Sunday, 25 April 2010 08:06 AM

What to do, Made our own bed, now we must sleep in it.

Sunday, 25 April 2010 04:36 AM

Hope the President will not OVERTAKE the previous CABINET numbers.

Sunday, 25 April 2010 03:15 AM

What's new???

Sunday, 25 April 2010 01:02 AM

Can understand technicalities about the 3 from Kandy, but what should prevent the other 2 posts is questionable. It seems like a method kept open to swell the cabinet at will in the future.

Saturday, 24 April 2010 03:49 PM

what a joke, when will any sri lankan learn

Saturday, 24 April 2010 08:58 PM

Alibaba & 40 .......... including Defence Secretary, Speaker and Namal

Saturday, 24 April 2010 06:50 PM

But please dont expand it too much, since our taxes only will go up and up and not our salaries

Saturday, 24 April 2010 06:01 PM

In most cases its easy to remember cabinet ministers in USA, UK and India regardless of the size of the country and their portfolios since they do not exceed more than 25. the most significant feature is they perform, bring reforms and moving forward.
God bless MR's ability of so called 'Good governance'

Saturday, 24 April 2010 05:46 PM

Mahinda to expand cabinet - No body is surprised.

Saturday, 24 April 2010 05:25 PM

Not surprised. We harvest what you ((majority)) planted.

Saturday, 24 April 2010 04:32 PM

Wait more to come

Saturday, 24 April 2010 04:07 PM

Navin is ommited. This very sad story.

Saturday, 24 April 2010 04:05 PM

that expansion would go on,

Saturday, 24 April 2010 04:04 PM

Will end up by Oct 2010 bypassing the last figure.

Saturday, 24 April 2010 03:57 PM

Give me one also!

Saturday, 24 April 2010 03:54 PM

Here we go again...by the time the next election comes in 2016/17 there will be 144 ministers..

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Mahinda to expand cabinet

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