Non-cabinet minister (Sri Lanka)

In Sri Lanka, a Non-cabinet minister (also referred to as Minister of State, State minister, Project minister, District minister, Senior minister) is politician who is a Minister, but not a member of the Cabinet of Ministers. A non-cabinet minister is ranked below a cabinet minister, but above a deputy minister. A non-cabinet minister can be in charge of a ministry, be attached a ministry of a cabinet minister or be without a ministry. A cabinet minister may hold another non-cabinet minister post with a different subject concurrently.

Appointment

Under the [44] of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President on the advice of the Prime Minister can appoint a Member of Parliament as a Minister who will not be a member of the Cabinet of Ministers and assign subjects and functions, as well as ministries (if any) which are to be in charge of. The President can change the subjects and functions assigned to the Minister.[1]

History

The appointment of Non-cabinet ministers was set out under the Constitution of 1978. President J. R. Jayawardene appointed non-cabinet ministers and district ministers. President Ranasinghe Premadasa appointed both non-cabinet ministers and ministers of state. President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed non-cabinet ministers with the title of project ministers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed non-cabinet minister, project ministers and senior ministers. President Maithripala Sirisena appointed non-cabinet ministers with the title of state minister. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed state ministers.

Powers and duties

A Cabinet Minister by publishing in the Gazette can delegate to a non-cabinet minister any power or duty coming under the subject or function assigned to the cabinet minister by law. The Minister is responsible to the Cabinet of Ministers and to Parliament.[1]

Privileges of office

Salary

A Minister or State 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.[2] In addition, since all ministers are members of parliament they are entitled to allowances and benefits of parliamentarians.[3]

Official residence and office

A Minister is entitled to an official residence, they have an office and personal staff allocated from their ministry.

Travel

Each minister is entitled to three vehicles, which includes an official vehicle and security vehicles 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, deputy ministers are placed after the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, but before the Chief Government Whip (if the whip does not hold a ministerial position).

In the Sri Lankan order of precedence, non-cabinet ministers are placed after the Governor of the Province (within their respective province) and the Chief Minister (within their respective province).

List of current state ministers

List of current state ministers in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet is as follows;

  • Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene - State Minister of Industries and Rural Development.
  • John Senewirathna - State Minister of Economic Policy Development.
  • C.B. Ratnayake - State Minister of Railway Services.
  • Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene - State Minister of Information Communications Technology.
  • Anura Priyadarshana Yapa - State Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Welfare.
  • Rohitha Abeygunawardana - Stare Minister of Energy.
  • Dayasiri Jayasekera - State Minister of Industries.
  • Mohan Priyadarshana De Siiva - State Minister of Hunan Rights and Legal Reforms.
  • Shehan Semasinghe - State Minister of Development Banking and Loan Schemes,
  • Tharaka Balasooriya - State Minister of Social Protection
  • Kanchana Wijesekara - State Minister for Fisheries
  • Indika Anuruddha - State Minister for State Administration, Provincial & Local Council

References
  1. "Constitution of Sri Lanka" (PDF). parliament.lk. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  2. Salaries of ministers likely to be increased?
  3. Of Ministers’ Salaries And Parliamentary Perks
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