In a significant political shift, nearly all members of the previous cabinet, except for Mr. Jeevan Thondaman, faced defeat in the recently concluded parliamentary general election.
The previous cabinet consisted of 22 members. Among those who lost their parliamentary seats were prominent figures such as Kanchana Wijesekera, Dr. Susil Prema Jayantha, Harin Fernando, Mahinda Amaraweera, Douglas Devananda, Manusha Nanayakkara, Ramesh Pathirana, Vidura Wickramanayake, Nalin Fernando, Nimal Siripala de Silva, and Pavithra Wanni Arachchi.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was a member of the cabinet, did not participate in the election, while Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena secured a seat through the national list of the New Democratic Front. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga also refrained from contesting, and his name was excluded from his party’s national list.
Additionally, several key cabinet members—Keheliya Rambukwella, Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, and Tiran Alles—did not contest the election.
Among the state ministers from the previous administration, only Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, DV Chanaka, Anuradha Jayaratne, and Kader Mastan emerged victorious.
This outcome highlights a significant reshuffle in the country’s political landscape, signaling a new chapter in governance.
