Jumbo cabinet in Lanka

Days after beginning his second term, President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday expanded his cabinet and promised to double the country’s per capita income to 4,000 dollars by 2016 while presenting the budget in Parliament.

Days after beginning his second term, President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday expanded his cabinet and promised to double the country’s per capita income to 4,000 dollars by 2016 while presenting the budget in Parliament.

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Rajapaksa retained key portfolios like defence and finance while two of his brothers, Basil and Gotabhaya, were reappointed as minister for economic development and defence secretary.

The Sri Lankan cabinet now has 59 senior and cabinet ministers, an increase of 18 berths. Additionally, there are 31 deputy ministers.

Rajapaksa created a new post for “international monetary cooperation”, which is designed to coordinate Sri Lanka’s ties with foreign lenders.

He also announced a number of new taxes including ones on alcohol and cigarettes.