Sri Lanka Leader Keeps Defence, Finance In New Cabinet

President's allies get key posts after Rajapaksa clan quits

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has kept the defence and finance ministries under his control in a new cabinet, while allies were given key portfolios after members of the powerful Rajapaksa family quit. Wickremesinghe appointed 17 new cabinet ministers and four state ministers in his first cabinet reshuffle since becoming president in July 2022.

Basil Rajapaksa, who was finance minister when his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa was president, quit last week. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is now prime minister, also gave up the position of sports minister.

The Rajapaksas quit their positions amid public anger over the country's worsening economic crisis. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with soaring inflation, a depreciating currency and shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

Wickremesinghe, who is a former prime minister, was elected president by lawmakers in July 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa, another brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, fled the country and resigned.

The new cabinet includes several allies of Wickremesinghe, including Dinesh Gunawardena, who was appointed foreign minister and Harin Fernando, who was appointed tourism minister. Wickremesinghe has also appointed several technocrats to key positions, including Ali Sabry, who was appointed justice minister and Prasanna Ranatunga, who was appointed urban development and housing minister.

The new cabinet is expected to face a number of challenges, including the ongoing economic crisis and the need to restore stability to the country.

Sri Lanka is currently negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package. The IMF has said that Sri Lanka needs to implement a number of reforms, including raising taxes and cutting spending, in order to qualify for a bailout.