Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet of 17 members today in an attempt to quell ongoing anti-government protests, with some familiar figures back in power.

Though the new cabinet currently contains no-one from the Rajapaksa family, Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains president and his older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa remains prime minister.

And amongst the 17 new members, some notable posts remain empty such as the Minister of Justice.

One notable name is Douglas Devananda, the leader of the government-aligned Eelam People’s Democratic Party paramilitary group, who continues to hold on to his post as fisheries minister. Devananda, a staunch Rajapaksa ally, held the post prior to the protests in the South. The EPDP functioned as a paramilitary group aligned with the Sri Lankan state and stands accused of a host of human rights abuses, including murder, extortion, kidnapping, international child trafficking and running child prostitution rings for Sri Lanka soldiers. Read more, including from a leaked 2007 US embassy cable on the activities of the EPDP, here and here.

See more on Devananda in our feature: Abductions, murders and prostitution rings – The story of Douglas Devananda, who is still a Sri Lankan minister

The Sri Lankan president also appointed 21 new State Ministers, including Lohan Ratwatte in charge of Urban Development. Ratwatte, a close Rajapaksa ally, was earlier appointed state minister of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Development, before protests flared across the South earlier this month.

In September 2021 the minister forced Tamil inmates detained in the Anuradhapura prison to kneel down at gunpoint. Ratwatte was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when he entered the premises and demanded Tamil prisoners to perform the humiliating act.

Lohan Ratwatte has a history of being accused of mass murder and irresponsible behaviour with firearms. He reportedly led the killing of ten unarmed Muslims during the 2001 general elections for which he was convicted and sentenced by the high court. He was later acquitted on flimsy grounds. 

See more on Ratwatte here: Rajapaksa's 'murderous drunk' ally gifted another ministry

The new cabinet comes amidst ongoing protests against the ruling regime, in the wake of an economic crisis on the island.

Sri Lanka officially anounced it was to default on US$51 billion of loans last week, and that the stock exchange has also been suspended for a week with effect from Monday. This week, government officials will be travelling to Washington for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in hopes of securing a bailout loan.

Four ministers, including Finance Minister Ali Sabry and Foreign Minister GL Peiris, who were appointed earlier this month continue to keep their posts. See the full list of new cabinet ministers below.

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Dinesh Gunawardena – Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government

Douglas Devananda – Minister of Fisheries

Dr. Ramesh Pathirana – Minister of Education and Plantation Industries

Prasanna Ranatunga – Minister of Public Security and Tourism

Dilum Amunugama – Minister of Transport and Industries

Kanaka Herath – Minister of Highways

Vidura Vickramanayake – Minister of Labor

Janaka Wakkumbura - Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

Shehan Semasinghe – Minister of Trade and Samurdhi Development

Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva – Minister of Water Supplies

Wimalaweera Dissanayake – Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation

Kanchana Wijesekara – Minister of Power and Energy

Thenuka Vidanagamage – Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs

Dr. Nalaka Godahewa – Minister of Mass Media

Prof. Channa Jayasumana – Minister of Health

Naseer Ahamed – Minister of Environment

Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon – Minister of Ports and Shipping