No cabinet reshuffle yet

No concrete decision in this regard yet 

Only mulls appointment of a deputy media minister

By Kelum Bandara  

The government scotched speculation on social media platforms about a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the near future, multiple sources from the government confirmed.  

In response to a query by Daily Mirror regarding a change in the current Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that no such plan is in the offing.  

Speculation was rife on social media that the government intends to strip Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya of her post. Also, the recent meeting between former MP Sarath Fonseka and the President gave rise to speculation about a change in the Cabinet with the inclusion of new faces.  

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala also said there would not be any change in the Cabinet but the government mulls the appointment of a deputy minister for media to assist Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa who is currently busy with his ministerial duties.  

Dr. Jayatissa is the Cabinet Minister of Health and Media. However, Minister Wijepala said the government had not firmed up its decision on the appointment of a deputy minister yet.   

“There was some internal discussion in this regard. Otherwise, there is no final decision on the matter,” he said.  

There are 21 members in the current Cabinet in addition to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who has also retained ministerial subjects such as defence and finance. It was formed after the victory at the last parliamentary election. It is one of the smallest Cabinets formed under any government in recent years.   

The President has the authority to appoint the Cabinet and assign subjects to them.