News - Cabinet reshuffle on the cards

By Our Political Editor

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to effect a Cabinet reshuffle and also make changes in some key official slots anytime after next week, The Sunday Times learns.

The move will see changes in the portfolios of ministers who have not performed well or those facing corruption and other allegations. It will also see the inclusion of new faces including Ceylon Workers Congress leader Arumugam Thondaman and Upcountry People’s Front leader S. Chandrasekeran.

According to highly placed Government sources President Rajapaksa's offer of portfolios to the JVP still stands. However, this is if the party decides to accept his invitation to join the Government. JVP sources said such a decision had still not been made by the party hierarchy though the matter had been discussed at length.

Changes in official slots, The Sunday Times learns, will include some key state sectors including the security establishment. It is likely to see changes in some top positions held by security officials and the police.