17 new ministers sworn into Sri Lanka’s cabinet amid crisis

A protester hold a Sri Lanka's national flag as he participates along with others in an anti-government demonstration near the president's office in Colombo on April 17, 2022. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

COLOMBO – Seventeen new ministers were sworn into the Sri Lankan cabinet on Monday as the nation faced political instability and a severe economic crisis.

The new cabinet was sworn in after days of discussions with political parties as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had wanted younger parliamentarians from the ruling party to take portfolios as public protests continued calling on the government to step down.

The new cabinet was appointed after the previous cabinet of ministers resigned earlier this month due to political instability in the country following a severe economic crisis

According to the President's Media Division, some of the new parliamentarians who were sworn in include Kanchana Wijesekera as the power and energy minister, Nalaka Godahewa as the media minister, Channa Jayasumana as the health minister, Pramitha Tennakoon as the ports and shipping minister and Prasanna Ranatunga as the public security and tourism minister.

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Ali Sabry who was sworn into the post earlier this month will continue to be the finance minister.

The new cabinet was appointed after the previous cabinet of ministers resigned earlier this month due to political instability in the country following a severe economic crisis.

Sri Lanka has been facing public protests for weeks, with protestors urging the government to step down or provide immediate relief.

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