Many tainted faces have returned to the saddle.
Rohitha, Johnny, Pavitra, SM Chandrasena, Mahindananda, and Sanath Nishantha have been nominated for ministerial portfolios by the SLPP.
Eran, Harsha, Champika, Rajitha, and Kabir are likely to join the new government with ministerial responsibilities.
Ministers who held key portfolios in the old cabinet are to continue as cabinet ministers.
Parliamentarians representing several political parties have prevailed upon the President to form a National Government in the event if he fails to solicit the support of an adequate number of political parties to form an all-party-government.
If the political parties do not come together for an all-party government, the Parliamentarians have asked the President to form a national government by bringing together individual members of those parties who have expressed their willingness to form an all-party government.
According to informed sources, the government that will be formed will probably be a national government, and the President has decided to name the cabinet within the course of the next week.Those sources say that the cabinet of ministers of the new government will include Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Sanath Nishantha, SM Chandrasena, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Pavitradevi Vanniarachchi, and Ramesh Pathirana.
The same source said Samagi Jana Balawega MPs Harsha De Silva, Kabir Hashim, Rajitha Senaratne, Champika Ranawaka, and Eran Wickramaratne are also likely to join the Cabinet.
Vajira Abeywardena of the United National Party, Jeevan Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, and National Congress leader A. L. M. Ataullah are also scheduled to be given ministerial posts.
Although there are many requests for ministerial positions, the Cabinet will not exceed 35, insiders told LANKASARA.