Lankan new cabinet takes oath
Saturday, 24 April 2010
COLOMBO, Apr 23 (Xinhua): Sri Lanka's newly appointed 37- member cabinet took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat early Friday afternoon in the capital Colombo, government officials said.
Officials from the Department of Government Information said President Rajapaksa's younger brother Basil Rajapaksa has been sworn in as the Economic Minister.
The foreign affairs portfolio went to G. L. Peiris, who is the former Export Development and International Trade Minister.
The ceremony came after the ruling party bagged 144 seats in the 225 member parliament in the election held on April 8.
According to the island's constitution, only members of parliament can be appointed as ministers.
The newly elected 225 legislators were sworn in on Thursday before Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, the older brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Officials from the Department of Government Information said President Rajapaksa's younger brother Basil Rajapaksa has been sworn in as the Economic Minister.
The foreign affairs portfolio went to G. L. Peiris, who is the former Export Development and International Trade Minister.
The ceremony came after the ruling party bagged 144 seats in the 225 member parliament in the election held on April 8.
According to the island's constitution, only members of parliament can be appointed as ministers.
The newly elected 225 legislators were sworn in on Thursday before Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, the older brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.