Second Dissanayake cabinet

Second Anura Kumara Dissanayake cabinet
Cabinet of Sri Lanka
Date formed	18 November 2024 (2024-11-18)
People and organisations
Head of state	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Head of government	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Deputy head of government	Harini Amarasuriya
Total no. of members	23
Member parties	National People's Power
Status in legislature	Supermajority government 159 / 225 (71%)
Opposition party	Samagi Jana Balawegaya
Opposition leader	Sajith Premadasa
History
Election	2024
Legislature term	17th
Predecessor	Dissanayake I

The second Dissanayake cabinet is the current central government of Sri Lanka led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It was formed on 18 November 2024 after the parliamentary election. ^[1]

Cabinet members

Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution govern the appointment of cabinet ministers, non-cabinet ministers and deputy ministers. These articles also outline the assignment of subjects, functions, departments, statutory institutions and public corporations to the ministries. The members of the Cabinet are as follows: ^{[2] [3]}

No.	Name	Portrait	Party		Office	Electoral District [4]	Took office	Left office	Ref.
1	Anura Kumara Dissanayake			National People's Power	President	Sri Lanka	23 September 2024 [a]		[2] [3]
					Minister of Defence		24 September 2024 [a]
					Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development		24 September 2024 [a]
					Minister of Digital Economy		18 November 2024
2	Harini Amarasuriya			National People's Power	Prime Minister	Colombo	24 September 2024 [a]
					Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education		24 September 2024 [a]
3	Vijitha Herath			National People's Power	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Emmployment and Tourism	Gampaha	24 September 2024 [a]
4	Chandana Abayarathna			National People's Power	Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government	Puttalam	18 November 2024
5	Harshana Nanayakkara			National People's Power	Minister of Justice and National Integration	Colombo	18 November 2024
6	Saroja Savithri Paulraj			National People's Power	Minister of Women and Child Affairs	Matara	18 November 2024
7	K. D. Lalkantha			National People's Power	Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation	Kandy	18 November 2024
8	Anura Karunathilake			National People's Power	Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing	National list	18 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5]
					Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation		10 October 2025
9	Ramalingam Chandrasekar			National People's Power	Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources	National list	18 November 2024
10	Upali Pannilage			National People's Power	Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment	National list	18 November 2024
11	Sunil Handunnetti			National People's Power	Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development	Matara	18 November 2024
12	Ananda Wijepala			National People's Power	Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs	Kurunegala	18 November 2024
13	Bimal Rathnayake			National People's Power	Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation	National list	18 November 2024	10 October 2025	[6] [5]
					Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development		10 October 2025
14	Hiniduma Sunil Senevi			National People's Power	Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs	Ratnapura	18 November 2024
15	Nalinda Jayatissa			National People's Power	Minister of Health and Mass Media	Kalutara	18 November 2024		[6]
					Cabinet Spokesperson		19 November 2024 [a]
16	Samantha Vidyaratna			National People's Power	Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure	Badulla	18 November 2024
17	Sunil Kumara Gamage			National People's Power	Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports	National list	18 November 2024
18	Wasantha Samarasinghe			National People's Power	Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development	Anuradhapura	18 November 2024
19	Chrishantha Abeysena			National People's Power	Minister of Science and Technology	Gampaha	18 November 2024
20	Anil Jayantha			National People's Power	Minister of Labour	Gampaha	18 November 2024
21	Kumara Jayakody			National People's Power	Minister of Energy	National list	18 November 2024
22	Dammika Patabendi			National People's Power	Minister of Environment	Kegalle	18 November 2024
23	Susil Ranasinghe			National People's Power	Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply	Anuradhapura	10 October 2025		[5]

Formation of government

The National People's Power (NPP), having secured a supermajority with 159 seats, formed the next government of Sri Lanka. The new cabinet of ministers, sworn in on 18 November 2024, comprised 21 members elected in the recent parliamentary election, along with the president, who retained the portfolios of Defence, Finance and Digital Economy. This was carried out in accordance with Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution. Harini Amarasuriya continued as prime minister, in addition to holding the ministerial portfolio of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education. ^{[2] [4] [3]}

Bimal Rathnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa of the NPP were appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip, respectively, on 19 November 2024 by the President. ^[6]

Changes

• On 10 October 2025, a cabinet reshuffle was carried out that included new appointments and changes affecting three cabinet ministers and ten deputy ministers. The number of cabinet members, including the president, increased from 22 to 23. ^{[5] [7]}

Deputy ministers

Ministers, who assist the cabinet, appointed under article 46(1) of the Constitution. ^[8]

No.	Name	Portrait	Party		Office	Took office	Left office	Ref.
1	Anil Jayantha			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Economic Development	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[8] [5]
					Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning	10 October 2025
2	M. D. Namal Karunaratne			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock	21 November 2024
3	Wasantha Piyathissa			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment	21 November 2024
4	Nalin Hewage			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Vocational Education	21 November 2024
5	R. M. Jayawardena			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development	21 November 2024
6	Gamagedara Dissanayake			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs	21 November 2024
7	T. B. Sarath			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Housing	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5]
					Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply	10 October 2025
8	Rathna Gamage			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources	21 November 2024
9	Mahinda Jayasinghe			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Labour	21 November 2024
10	Aruna Jayasekara			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Defence	21 November 2024
11	Arun Hemachandra			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment	21 November 2024
12	Anton Jayakody			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Environment	21 November 2024
13	Muneer Mulaffer			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of National Integrity	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5]
					Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs	10 October 2025
14	Eranga Weeraratne			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Digital Economy	21 November 2024
15	Eranga Gunasekara			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5]
					Deputy Minister of Urban Development	10 October 2025
16	Chathuranga Abeysinghe			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development	21 November 2024
17	Janitha Kodithuwakku			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation	21 November 2024
18	Namal Sudarshana			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs	21 November 2024
19	Prabha Senarath			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government	21 November 2024
20	Prasanna Gunasena			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways	21 November 2024
21	Hansaka Wijemuni			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5]
					Deputy Minister of Health	10 October 2025
22	Upali Samarasinghe			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development	21 November 2024
23	Ruwan Ranasinghe			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Tourism	21 November 2024
24	Sugath Thilakaratne			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Sports	21 November 2024
25	S. Pradeep			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure	21 November 2024
26	Sunil Watagala			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs	21 November 2024
27	Madhura Senevirathna			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education	21 November 2024
—	Harshana Sooriyapperuma			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning	21 November 2024	20 June 2025	[9]
—	Susil Ranasinghe			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation	21 November 2024	10 October 2025	[5] [b]
28	Aravinda Vitharana			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation	10 October 2025		[5]
29	Dinindu Hennayake			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs	10 October 2025		[5]
30	Nishantha Jayaweera			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Economic Development	10 October 2025		[5]
31	Kaushalya Ariyarathne			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Mass Media	10 October 2025		[5]
32	Akram Ilyas			National People's Power	Deputy Minister of Energy	10 October 2025		[5]

Appointment of deputy ministers

On 21 November 2024, 29 MPs were sworn in as deputy ministers. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Cabinet Minister for Labour, was assigned the additional role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development alongside his existing responsibilities. ^[8]

Changes

• Harshana Sooriyapperuma resigned from both his parliamentary seat and his position as Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning on 20 June 2025, to assume duties as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. ^[9]

• On 10 October 2025, a ministerial reshuffle was carried out that included new appointments and changes affecting three cabinet ministers and ten deputy ministers. The number of deputy ministers, increased from 29 to 32. ^{[5] [7]}

Notes

1. Continuation of same office held in previous cabinet.
2. Appointed as the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply on 10 October 2025

References

1. "Sri Lanka leader reappoints Amarasuriya as PM, retains finance and defence". Al Jazeera. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
2. Siriwardana, Ajith (23 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka's 9th President". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
3. Appointment of PM, cabinet ministers and assignment of duties:
   • For the appointment of prime minister: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/08 of 2024.11.18 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No.999/6 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
   • For ministerial portfolios retained by the president: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/09 of 2024.11.18 – Government Notifications" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
   • For the appointment of ministers: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No.2411/10 of 2024.11.18 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No.999/7 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
   • For the assignment of duties, subjects and functions, departments, institutions, statutory boards and public corporations to each ministry: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2412/08 of 2024.11.25 – Government Notifications" (PDF). President of Sri Lanka. 25 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
   • For the new cabinet of ministers sworn in on 18 November: "Sri Lanka's new Cabinet of Ministers sworn in". Ada Derana. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
   • For additional information on ministerial portfolios: "President retains Defence, Finance and Digital Economy Ministries". Daily Mirror. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
   • For media coverage of the assignment of duties, subjects and functions: "Subjects and functions of new govt's ministries gazetted". Ada Derana. 26 November 2024. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
4. "List of candidates and preferential votes in Sri Lanka 2024 election". EconomyNext. 15 November 2024. Archived from the original on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
5. "Cabinet Reshuffle: New portfolios for 3 ministers and 10 deputy ministers". Ada Derana. 10 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
6. Appointments:
   • For Leader of the House: "Minister Bimal Rathnayake appointed as Leader of the House". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
   • For Chief Government Whip: "Nalinda Jayatissa appointed Chief Govt Whip". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
7. "The Gazette Extraordinary No. 2457/36 of 11 October 2025: Government Notifications | Appointment & C., by the President" (PDF). Department of Government Printing. 11 October 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
8. Appointment of deputy ministers:
   • For the appointment of deputy ministers: "The Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2412/13 of 2024.11.28 – Appointments & C., by the Presidents, No. 999/10 of 2024" (PDF). Secretary to the President. 28 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
   • Media coverage of the appointments: "Deputy Ministers Officially Sworn In". Presidential Secretariat. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
   • Media coverage of the appointments: "Olympic Athlete Sugath Thilakaratne among 29 Deputy Ministers". Daily Mirror. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
9. "Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma resigns as MP, set to become Treasury secretary". www.dailymirror.lk. 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.