As expected, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake exchanged portfolios in a Sri Lankan cabinet reshuffle that was announced on Monday morning. The changes were made by President Maithripala Sirisena, just a few hours before leaving to Australia on an official visit, in consultation with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Other main changes were Mahinda Samarasinghe as Minister of Ports and Shipping, Arjuna Ranatunga as Minister of Petroleum Resources while W.J.M. Seneviratne remains as Labour Minister. Karunanayake and Ranatunga in particular have come in for severe criticism in the handling of their portfolios. Samaraweera, it is learnt, had agreed to a swap with Karunanayake, as a compromise formula as the latter has resisted being removed from the position. It was likely that former banker Eran Wickremaratne would be appointed as Samaraweera''s Deputy at finance. - ENDS-
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
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