21 July 2022 08:35 am
A Cabinet of 20-25 members will be appointed within the next few days to serve under President Ranil Wickremesinghe who will be sworn in tomorrow, Daily Mirror learns.
The new government tries to make it as representative as possible. The new President also articulated it in his speech to Parliament upon announcement of his victory at the secret ballot yesterday.
Daily Mirror learns that a lot of young MPs will be given responsibilities in the government. The president is expected to appoint someone acceptable to all the parties as the prime minister. Unless any leader from the opposition is willing to accept premiership, it will be offered to MP Dinesh Gunawardane who nominated Mr.Wickremesinghe to the presidency in the secret ballot.
According to the Constitution, the size of the Cabinet cannot exceed 30. The new government is planning to normalize fuel and cooking gas supplies and delivery of fertilizer for farmers for cultivation in the upcoming season. Also, the government is expected to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure financial assistance to get over the current economic crisis. (Kelum Bandara)