Sri Lanka cabinet appointed by Sirisena after political crisis; power tussle not over yet

Sirisena, who holds the Defence and Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry portfolios, has retained his control over the police, which is investigating an alleged plot to kill him.

This handout released by Sri Lanka President media on December 16, 2018, shows Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (R) handing over documents to Ranil Wickremesinghe (L) as he is reappointed as prime minister in Colombo. - Sri Lanka's president on December 16 reappointed as prime minister the same man he sacked from the job nearly two months ago, ending a messy power struggle that had paralysed the island nation. (Photo by Handout / Sri Lanka President Media / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /Sri Lanka President media "

New Delhi: Putting an end to the months-long political crisis in Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday installed a 30-member cabinet while rejecting some of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's nominees. Sirisena made it a point to keep the security forces and police under his control, signalling that the power tussle is still on between them. What is more striking is the President has not appointed a law and order minister, a crucial post for investigating corruption allegations against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family. Wickremesinghe was reinstalled as the Prime Minister on December 16 and the new cabinet was appointed after a delay of three days since then. The differences between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe over cabinet nominees caused the unexpected delay to extend to three days. Sirisena rejected Wickremesinghe's nominees for Cabinet positions from those who had defected from his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). At least three senior SLFP leaders had defected to Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) during the political crisis. Sirisena, who holds the Defence and Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry portfolios, has retained his control over the police, which is investigating an alleged plot to kill him. The plot widened the gulf between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe. Sri Lanka was plunged into an unprecedented constitutional crisis on October 26, when Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Wickremsinghe and installed Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. He also dissolved the 225-member Parliament and called for a snap election on January 5. He had publicly vowed not to reinstate Wickremesinghe. However, after the 51-day political standoff in the country, Wikcremsinghe was re-appointed by Sirisena following a Supreme Court order