Sri Lanka to appoint new finance minister next week

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka appointed nine more ministers to an “all-party government” tasked with trying to steer the country out of its economic crisis, but the crucial finance portfolio remains vacant, AFP reported.

The new ministers — for health, education and justice, among others — were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at his tightly-guarded official residence in Colombo, the government said in a brief statement.

Two  MPs from the main opposition SJB party broke ranks to join the new government.

Another opposition party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, agreed to support President Rajapaksa and was given one portfolio on Friday.

The finance position — which will bring with it responsibility for leading negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over a bail-out — remains vacant.

But the new prime minister’s office told AFP that someone would be appointed next week.

The delay in getting a finance minister could hinder the IMF negotiations, the central bank chief warned on Thursday.