Sri Lankan President reshuffles cabinet

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse reshuffled his cabinet on Monday and appointed ten new ministers, the President's office said.

Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka said that six new deputy ministers were also appointed during the cabinet reshuffle. Among the major notable changes were that of the Power and Energy Ministry and Petroleum Resources Ministry.

Pavithra Wanniarachchi was appointed as the new minister of Power and Energy while the minister who held that post earlier, Champika Ranawaka, was appointed as the Minister of Technology and Research.

Meanwhile, former Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha was named the new minister of Environment while Anura Priyadharshana Yapa took over as the new minister of Petroleum Resources.

The former ministers of Petroleum and Power and Energy had been in the media spotlight in the recent past after both the state owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity Board began to suffer losses.

Meanwhile Lakshman Seniviratne was named the Minister of Sugar Industries, Jayaratna Herath the Minister of Botanical Gardens and Public Enterprises, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena the Investment Promotion Minister, Duminda Dissanayake the Education Services Minister, Basir Segu Daud the Minister of Productivity Promotion and Wijith Wiheyamuni Soyza the Minister of Wildlife Conservation.

Nirmala Kotalawala was named the Project Minister of Highways and Rohitha Abeygunawardena the Project Minister of Ports.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratna remained at his post despite speculation being rife that he would be replaced due to his present ailing health condition.