NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was holding important portfolios like defence and finance until now, retains none.
She averted a possible controversy by relinquishing any claim to a portfolio, even though the constitution allows her to do it.
Wickremesinghe, leader of the United National Party, named legal expert K N Choksy as his finance minister and another legal brain, former attorney general Tilak Marapone as defence minister.
Tyronne Fernando, a barrister and former cricket administrator, will be the new foreign minister.
The new ministry was sworn in at a function at the president's house on Wednesday afternoon, ending two days of uncertainty over a possible deadlock if the president, who represents the defeated People's Alliance, denied the prime minister the final say in filling up crucial portfolios.
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