Sri Lanka’s new leader appoints his PM brother as Finance Minister

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) takes an oath as he is sworn in as Finance Minister  (AFP)

COLOMBO (Reuters): Mahinda Rajapaksa, the current Prime Minister, as the interim government’s new Finance Minister, State television showed in a live telecast yesterday.

Mahinda, a former Sri Lankan President, took the oath as the Minister of Finance and Economic Policy Development. He was also put in charge of Buddhist, Cultural and Religious Affairs, as well as Urban Development and Water Supply and Housing, the swearing-in ceremony telecast from the presidential secretariat showed.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s eldest brother Chamal, a legislator, was sworn in as the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Internal Trade, and Consumer Welfare.