Cabinet of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Cabinet of Ministers is the council of ministers that form the central government of Sri Lanka. The body of senior ministers responsible and answerable to the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The President is a member of the cabinet and its head.[1]

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The current cabinet is the Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet,[2] which consists of 15 members from 22 November 2019.[3] There are also 38 state ministers who are not members of the cabinet.

Background
The first Cabinet of Ministers of Ceylon in 1947
See also: List of Ceylonese executive councils

The Executive Council of Ceylon was the Executive Council created in British Ceylon by the British colonial administration on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission along with the Legislative Council of Ceylon, as the legislative body, on 13 March 1833.

At its creation the Executive Council was headed by the Governor, along with five members appointed by the Governor. These five members were officials who held the posts of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Auditor-General, the Treasurer and the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. The Council exercised executive power and advised the governor. As a result of the First Manning Reforms three non-officials were elected to the executive council.

With enactment of the new constitution of the Dominion of Ceylon in 1947 the Executive Council was replaced by a National Cabinet.

Constitutional basis

As per the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President is a member of and head of the cabinet.[1] The president appoints as Prime Minister, a Member of Parliament who has the confidence of parliament.[1] Other ministers of the cabinet are appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister.[4] The president may appoint himself to any ministry he chooses.[4] According to the constitution the president must be the Minister of Defence.[5] The President also appoints, in consultation with the Prime Minister, non-cabinet ministers (state ministers, project ministers) and Deputy ministers.[6][7]

Powers and functions

Constitutionally, the Cabinet of Ministers charged with the direction and control of the Government of the Republic and is collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament. Cabinet Ministers may table cabinet papers.

Meetings

Cabinet meets on a regular basis, usually weekly on a Tuesday to discuss the most important issues of government policy. The president typically chairs the meeting and sets the agenda. All Cabinet meetings are held behind closed doors and the minutes are kept confidential. The Cabinet meets at the Old Parliament Building, Colombo.

Committees

A Cabinet Committee comprises a subset of the larger Cabinet, consisting of a number of ministers who have responsibility in related areas of policy.[8]

Administration

The Cabinet offices, are located at the Republic Building and is headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, appointed by the President.

Privileges of office

Salary

A Cabinet minister would receive a salary of Rs. 140,000 (having been increased from 65,000 from January 2018); paid monthly from the respective ministry budget.[9] In addition, since all ministers are members of parliament they are entitled to allowances and benefits of parliamentarians.[10]

Official residence and office

Cabinet Ministers are entitled to an official residence, as well as an office and personal staff allocated from his ministry.

Travel

Each Cabinet Minister is entitled to three vehicles, which includes an official vehicle and security vehicle provided and maintained by their ministry. For domestic air travel, helicopters from the No. 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force are charted by the ministry.

Security

Traditionally security for the ministers have been provided by the Sri Lanka Police. During emergencies military units have been allocated to bolster security to certain ministers based on treat levels. At present the Ministerial Security Division is in charge of security of ministers.

Order of precedence

In the Sri Lankan order of precedence, cabinet ministers are placed after the Former Presidents, but before Governor of the Province (within their respective province).

Members
See also: Ministers of the Sri Lanka Government
  • Mahinda Rajapaksa – Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, Policy Development, Buddha Sasana, Cultural, Water Supply & Urban Development, Housing Facilities Ministry
  • Nimal Siripala de Silva – Minister of Justice, Human Rights & Legal Reforms
  • Arumugam Thondaman – Minister of Community Empowerment & Estate Infrastructure
  • Dinesh Gunawardena – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Skills Development, Employment & Labour Relations
  • Douglas Devananda – Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources
  • Pavithra Wanniarachchi – Minister of Women & Child Affairs and Social Security, Health & Indigenous Medicine
  • Bandula Gunawardene – Minister of Information & Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology & Innovations
  • Janaka Bandara Tennakoon – Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government
  • Chamal Rajapaksa – Minister of Mahaweli Development, Agriculture & Trade,
  • Dullas Alahapperuma – Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs
  • Johnston Fernando – Minister of Roads & Highways, Ports & Shipping
  • Mahinda Amaraweera – Minister of Passenger Transport, Power & Energy
  • Wimal Weerawansa – Minister of Small Medium Enterprise (SME) & Enterprise Development, Industries & Supply Management
  • S.M. Chandrasena – Minister of Environment, Wildlife, Land & Land Development
  • Ramesh Pathirana – Minister of Plantations & Export Agriculture
  • Prasanna Ranatunga – Minister of Industrial Exports & Investment Promotions, Tourism & Aviation

Lists of former cabinets
Main article: List of Sri Lankan cabinets

See also

References
  • "Government Ministers". Policy Research & Information Unit, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 4 December 2003. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  1. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA - Article 43". LawNet.
  2. "President Rajapaksa assumes duties. - The official website of the President of Sri Lanka". www.president.gov.lk. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  3. "New Cabinet of Ministers sworn in - The official website of the President of Sri Lanka". www.president.gov.lk. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  4. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA - Article 44". LawNet.
  5. "Ranil works out peaceful pre-dawn transition of power with Mahinda". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 11 January 2015.
  6. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA - Article 45". LawNet.
  7. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA - Article 46". LawNet.
  8. "Committees". cabinetoffice.gov.lk. Cabinet Office. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  9. Salaries of ministers likely to be increased?
  10. Of Ministers’ Salaries And Parliamentary Perks
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