Manusha and Lakshman join Maithri
Manusha Nanayakkara around whom rumours circulated in the past that he is to make a 'jump' from Mahinda's group to Maithri's group has joined the present government and
claimed a Deputy Minister post. Initially he was selected to the parliament by the United National Party. Subsequently during the regime of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa he switched on to that side and was rejecting rumours that he was to 'jump' to the Maithri faction during the last election period.
Apart from him, Lakshman Seneviratna took his oaths as the State Minister for Science and Technology while Palitha Thevarapperuma was given an appointment as Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs in the presence of the President, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena.
Lakshman Seneviratna had in fact been an MP of the United National Party and later joined the Mahinda faction and held the position of the Sugar Ministry of that government. With these new appointments the number of deputy ministers have increased to 25 while the number of state ministers have gone up to 20.