Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday reshuffled his Cabinet for the fourth time and changed the portfolios of 18 Ministers, weeks after six Ministers had resigned from his National Unity government.
Six Cabinet Ministers had resigned on April 12, after they voted against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a no-trust motion moved by Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Joint Opposition on April 4.
Following the resignations, four acting Ministers were sworn-in on April 12 by the President.
In Tuesday’s reshuffle, former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who was sacked in August last year, was appointed as the Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs.
The Higher Education portfolio was earlier held by Kabir Hashim, who was appointed as the Minister of Highways and Road Development, while Thalatha Athukorala was made the Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms.
Former Army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was holding the charge of the Regional Development Ministry, was sworn in as the Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development.
