Second Dissanayake cabinet
Second Anura Kumara Dissanayake cabinet | |
|---|---|
Cabinet of Sri Lanka | |
| Date formed | 18 November 2024 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Head of government | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Deputy head of government | Harini Amarasuriya |
| Total no. of members | 23 |
| Member parties | National People's Power |
| Status in legislature | Supermajority government |
| Opposition party | Samagi Jana Balawegaya |
| Opposition leader | Sajith Premadasa |
| History | |
| Election | 2024 |
| Legislature term | 17th |
| Predecessor | Dissanayake I |
The second Dissanayake cabinet is the current central government of Sri Lanka led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It was formed on 18 November 2024 after the parliamentary election.[1]
Cabinet members
Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution govern the appointment of cabinet ministers, non-cabinet ministers and deputy ministers. These articles also outline the assignment of subjects, functions, departments, statutory institutions and public corporations to the ministries. The members of the Cabinet are as follows:[2][3]
Formation of government
The National People's Power (NPP), having secured a supermajority with 159 seats, formed the next government of Sri Lanka. The new cabinet of ministers, sworn in on 18 November 2024, comprised 21 members elected in the recent parliamentary election, along with the president, who retained the portfolios of Defence, Finance and Digital Economy. This was carried out in accordance with Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution. Harini Amarasuriya continued as prime minister, in addition to holding the ministerial portfolio of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.[2][4][3]
Bimal Rathnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa of the NPP were appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip, respectively, on 19 November 2024 by the President.[6]
Changes
- On 10 October 2025, a cabinet reshuffle was carried out that included new appointments and changes affecting three cabinet ministers and ten deputy ministers. The number of cabinet members, including the president, increased from 22 to 23.[5][7]
Deputy ministers
Ministers, who assist the cabinet, appointed under article 46(1) of the Constitution.[8]
| No. | Name | Portrait | Party | Office | Took office | Left office | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anil Jayantha | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Economic Development | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [8] [5] | ||
| Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning | 10 October 2025 | |||||||
| 2 | M. D. Namal Karunaratne | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 3 | Wasantha Piyathissa | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 4 | Nalin Hewage | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Vocational Education | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 5 | R. M. Jayawardena | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 6 | Gamagedara Dissanayake | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 7 | T. B. Sarath | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Housing | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [5] | ||
| Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply | 10 October 2025 | |||||||
| 8 | Rathna Gamage | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 9 | Mahinda Jayasinghe | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Labour | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 10 | Aruna Jayasekara | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Defence | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 11 | Arun Hemachandra | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 12 | Anton Jayakody | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Environment | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 13 | Muneer Mulaffer | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of National Integrity | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [5] | ||
| Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs | 10 October 2025 | |||||||
| 14 | Eranga Weeraratne | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Digital Economy | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 15 | Eranga Gunasekara | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [5] | ||
| Deputy Minister of Urban Development | 10 October 2025 | |||||||
| 16 | Chathuranga Abeysinghe | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 17 | Janitha Kodithuwakku | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 18 | Namal Sudarshana | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 19 | Prabha Senarath | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 20 | Prasanna Gunasena | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 21 | Hansaka Wijemuni | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [5] | ||
| Deputy Minister of Health | 10 October 2025 | |||||||
| 22 | Upali Samarasinghe | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 23 | Ruwan Ranasinghe | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Tourism | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 24 | Sugath Thilakaratne | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Sports | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 25 | S. Pradeep | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 26 | Sunil Watagala | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| 27 | Madhura Senevirathna | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education | 21 November 2024 | ||||
| N/a | Harshana Sooriyapperuma | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning | 21 November 2024 | 20 June 2025 | [9] | ||
| N/a | Susil Ranasinghe | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation | 21 November 2024 | 10 October 2025 | [5][b] | ||
| 28 | Aravinda Vitharana | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation | 10 October 2025 | [5] | |||
| 29 | Dinindu Hennayake | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs | 10 October 2025 | [5] | |||
| 30 | Nishantha Jayaweera | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Economic Development | 10 October 2025 | [5] | |||
| 31 | Kaushalya Ariyarathne | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Mass Media | 10 October 2025 | [5] | |||
| 32 | Akram Ilyas | National People's Power | Deputy Minister of Energy | 10 October 2025 | [5] | |||
Appointment of deputy ministers
On 21 November 2024, 29 MPs were sworn in as deputy ministers. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Cabinet Minister for Labour, was assigned the additional role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development alongside his existing responsibilities.[8]
Changes
- Harshana Sooriyapperuma resigned from both his parliamentary seat and his position as Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning on 20 June 2025, to assume duties as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance.[9]
- On 10 October 2025, a ministerial reshuffle was carried out that included new appointments and changes affecting three cabinet ministers and ten deputy ministers. The number of deputy ministers, increased from 29 to 32.[5][7]
Notes
References
- ^ "Sri Lanka leader reappoints Amarasuriya as PM, retains finance and defence". Al Jazeera. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Siriwardana, Ajith (23 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka's 9th President". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Appointment of PM, cabinet ministers and assignment of duties:
- For the appointment of prime minister: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/08 of 2024.11.18 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No.999/6 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- For ministerial portfolios retained by the president: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/09 of 2024.11.18 – Government Notifications" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- For the appointment of ministers: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/10 of 2024.11.18 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No.999/7 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- For the assignment of duties, subjects and functions, departments, institutions, statutory boards and public corporations to each ministry: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2412/08 of 2024.11.25 – Government Notifications" (PDF). President of Sri Lanka. 25 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- For the new cabinet of ministers sworn in on 18 November: "Sri Lanka's new Cabinet of Ministers sworn in". Ada Derana. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - For additional information on ministerial portfolios: "President retains Defence, Finance and Digital Economy Ministries". Daily Mirror. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - For media coverage of the assignment of duties, subjects and functions: "Subjects and functions of new govt's ministries gazetted". Ada Derana. 26 November 2024. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ a b "List of candidates and preferential votes in Sri Lanka 2024 election". EconomyNext. 15 November 2024. Archived from the original on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Cabinet Reshuffle: New portfolios for 3 ministers and 10 deputy ministers". Ada Derana. 10 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Appointments:
- For Leader of the House: "Minister Bimal Rathnayake appointed as Leader of the House". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- For Chief Government Whip: "Nalinda Jayatissa appointed Chief Govt Whip". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ a b "The Gazette Extraordinary No. 2457/36 of 11 October 2025: Government Notifications | Appointment & C., by the President" (PDF). Department of Government Printing. 11 October 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Appointment of deputy ministers:
- For the appointment of deputy ministers: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2412/13 of 2024.11.28 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No. 999/10 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 28 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- Media coverage of the appointments: Psofzdmp (21 November 2024). "Deputy Ministers Officially Sworn In". President's Office. Presidential Secretariat. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- Media coverage of the appointments: "Olympic Athlete Sugath Thilakaratne among 29 Deputy Ministers". Daily Mirror. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma resigns as MP, set to become Treasury secretary". www.dailymirror.lk. 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.