Ministerial posts for rebel MPs?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 February 2000, 15:42 GMT]
Peoples Alliance (PA) government is considering expanding the existing 30-member cabinet by creating two additional ministerial posts, political sources in Colombo said.

Sarath Amunugama and Nanda Mathew, the two United National Party(UNP) MPs who recently joined the PA government are to be appointed to these new cabinet positions, sources added.

The ministry of public administration, local government and Plantation is to be divided into three separate ministries to accommodate the two UNP MPs. The ministry of Public Administration and the ministry of Local Government are to be given to Sarath Amunugama and Nanda Mathew while the Plantation ministry is expected to come under Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, informed sources said.

Changes in the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction ministry can also be expected, sources further said. An MP from the North-East province may be be appointed to a position in this ministry, according to these sources.