Cabinet reshuffle tomorrow

• Changes expected in Law & Order, Higher Education & Highways and Public Enterprise Development Ministries

By Chathuri Dissanayake

The all-important Cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place tomorrow, highly placed political sources said. 

Speculation was ripe this week anticipating changes in ministerial portfolios including the Ministry of Law & Order, the Ministry Higher Education & Highways and the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development. 

The reshuffle was expected to take place last week as crisis talks between Yahapalana coalition partners drew to a close with both the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) agreeing to make changes in the Cabinet.  Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne earlier this week announced the reshuffle would take place within the week, but it did not materialise as was expected.

Negotiations between the two leaders are still ongoing to finalise the portfolios, sources said. Reports also circulated that the delay to go ahead with a Cabinet reshuffle was a disagreement on some Cabinet posts between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Current Health Minister Dr. Senaratne this week refuted reports that he would be appointed Minister for Law & Order, claiming that he was not interested in the portfolio. 

Cabinet portfolios for the SLFP have yet to be finalised. (CD)