President's office sends list of ministers, deputy ministers' portfolios for gazetting but omits respective subjects

The Office of the President has sent to the Department of Printing a list of ministers and deputy ministers along with their portfolios with instructions to gazette it before midnight today (May 26).

But missing from the list are respective subjects--departments, statutory institutions, and public corporations--that each minister will have under his or her purview. This, too, had been expected by midnight today. But Government Printer Gangani Liyanage confirmed that, while the subjects had arrived, the duties had not.

There is speculation that the delay might be over a reported request by Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake to retain some of the duties of the Finance Ministry--including continued authority over the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mahapola and the Lotteries Board. It could also be due to further changes in Cabinet positions expected next week.