'Ideal opportunity to introduce a system change'; President tells new Cabinet

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he did not consider seniority when appointing the new Cabinet of Minister, on Monday (18).

"Ministerial positions are not mere benefits, it is a great responsibility," he told the new Cabinet in Colombo, urging them NOT to use additional benefits as Ministers.

He said that he expects honest, efficient, and untainted governance from the new cabinet, while ridding the institutions vested with them of corruption, and convert them to be committed to serve the public.

"Most of the public institutions are in financial crisis and those need to be rectified," said the President, adding that this is an ideal opportunity to introduce the system change that the people are calling for.

The President also appealed from the youth to support in this endeavor.

The President's Media Division said that there were NO amendments to the ministerial positions held by the President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris, & Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC.

The new cabinet of ministers : 

1. Dinesh Gunawardena – Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.

2. Douglas Devananda – Fisheries

3. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana – Education and Plantation Industries

4. Prasanna Ranatunga – Public Security & Tourism

5. Dilum Amunugama – Transport & Industries

6. Kanaka Herath – Highways

7. Vidura Wickramanayake – Labour

8. Janaka Wakkumbura – Agriculture & Irrigation

9. Shehan Semasinghe – Trade & Samurdhi Development

10. Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva – Water Supply

11. Wimalaweera Dissanayake – Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation

12. Kanchana Wijesekera – Power & Energy

13. Thenuka Vidanagamage -Sports and Youth Affairs

14. Dr. Nalaka Godahewa – Media

15. Professor Channa Jayasumana – Health

16. Naseer Ahamed – Environment

17. Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon – Ports and Shipping