Surprise Cabinet Reshuffle In Early January: Top Minister To Receive 'Transfer'

December 25, 2015

Nearly four months after the formation of a national unity government, President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are looking at a "surprise" cabinet reshuffle, authoritative government sources told Asian Mirror. 

Under the new reshuffle, a highly influential minister might lose his ministry, they further added. 

"He will be given another ministry as the Minister has run into some problems with the top rung leadership of the government," a senior government spokesman said on Friday. 

He also added that the President and the Prime Minister were on the same page about the Cabinet reshuffle. 

Meanwhile, four MPs known as allies of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are also expected to join the national unity government,  accepting ministerial portfolios. 

Some of them have already informed the former President of their decision  to leave the Rajapaksa camp. 

However, the new crossovers will increase the SLFP's share in the national unity government where ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios are concerned. 

The new appointments are expected to be made in early January,  government sources also added.