President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (23) swore in Senior Vice President of the SLFP Mahinda Amaraweera and Deputy Leader of the SLMC who entered Parliament on the SJB ticket, Ahamed Naseer Zainulabdeen, as members of his Cabinet-of-Ministers.

Amaraweera received Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest portfolios whereas Zainulabdeen was given environment. They are among six newly-appointed members of the Cabinet.

The four other ministers are Douglas Devananda (EPDP/Fisheries), Bandula Gunawardane (SLPP/Transport, Highways and Mass Media), Vidura Wickramanayake (SLPP/Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs) and Roshan Ranasinghe (SLPP/Irrigation, Youth and Sports).

In addition to the six new ministers, health minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana were sworn in as water supply and industries ministers, respectively.

Senior Vice President of the SLFP Prof. Rohana Lakshman said that though the government repeatedly declared about the appointment of an all-party- cabinet comprising 20 ministers, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, only six represented other political parties. Except for EPDP General Secretary Douglas Devananda, the remaining five-Harin Fernando (SJB), Manusha Nanayakkara (SJB), Nimal Siripala de Silva (SLFP), Mahinda Amaraweera (SLFP) and Ahamed Naseer Zainulabdeen (SLMC) had accepted portfolios against the wishes of their parties, he said.

The SLFP contested the last general election in August 2020 on the SLPP ticket. So far of the 14-member SLFP parliamentary group, two seniors have switched their allegiance to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe government.

None of those who had been questioned by the police in connection with unprovoked attacks on the public demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa not included in the Cabinet-of-Ministers. Former Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and ex- ministers, Chamal Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Shashendra Rajapaksa, too, have been left out.

Dissident MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that of the rebel group comprising several political parties six members had so far accepted portfolios. “There were altogether about 53 members, of them Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Susil Premjayanth, Nalin Fernando, Tiran Alles, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera accepted portfolios. However, we are confident of our strategy being in place,” Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila said.

The SLPP won 145 seats at the last general election in August 2020.

Well informed sources said that Premier Wickremesinghe was still making efforts to win over some more Opposition members. Wickremesinghe had been so far successful in reaching consensus with Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando, sources said, adding that the SJB and CWC were being approached.

Sources speculated that vital finance portfolio remained vacant as the government still believed Dr. Harsha de Silva could somehow be convinced to accept that portfolio. Sources emphasized the urgent need to fill that vacancy as the government was engaged in crucial talks with the IMF.

Sources said that Polonnaruwa District MP Roshan Ranasinghe who announced resignation from the post State Minister and SLFP District Organizer with effect from May 01 was among those who accepted portfolios.

In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranasinghe declared he resigned to pressure the Government to grant farmers the deserved compensation for losses incurred due to the use of organic fertilizer in the past Maha season.

By Shamindra Ferdinando in The Island, May 24, 2022
https://island.lk/more-opp-members-switch-allegiance-as-six-more-ministers-are-sworn-in/