In a significant expansion of the crisis-ridden nation’s government, Sri Lanka swore in 37 junior ministers on Thursday, including two for the crucial finance ministry.
Since gaining its independence from Britain in 1948, the island of 22 million people has experienced its worst economic instability. Due to historically low foreign exchange reserves, the nation is unable to afford the importation of basic goods including food, fuel, and medication.
“New state ministers (were) sworn in before the president at the presidential secretariat,” the president’s media division said in a statement.
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Shehan Semasinghe, MPs, have been sworn in as state ministers in the finance ministry while President Ranil Wickremesinghe continues to serve as finance minister.
Following widespread protests in July and the resignation of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe assumed power.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement for a $2.9 billion bailout earlier this month, but negotiations with creditors over billion-dollar repayments will be difficult.
