04-10-2004, 07:10 PM
Sri Lanka 's president names herself defense minister as coalition partner boycotts Cabinet oath-taking ceremony
Associated Press, Sat April 10, 2004 11:30 EDT . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's president on Saturday named herself minister of defense while her key coalition partner boycotted the swearing-in ceremony for 31 members of the proposed 35-member Cabinet. Sri Lanka - 's presidents often take top Cabinet positions in an effort to consolidate power. Kumaratunga naming herself as defense minister is in line with her criticism that the former government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was too soft on Tamil Tiger rebels.
Lakshman Kadirgamar a hard-liner against the separatist rebels was sworn is as foreign minister.
Kadirgamar, who lost a battle for the seat of prime minister earlier this week to Mahinda Rajapakse, was also handed the transportation ministry on Saturday.
The new government is scheduled to go before Parliament for its first session on April 22.
Kumaratunga's family has a long history of rule on this island nation off the southern tip of India. Her father was once prime minister and her mother became the world's first woman prime minister in 1960, taking the post after her husband was assassinated.
Associated Press, Sat April 10, 2004 11:30 EDT . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's president on Saturday named herself minister of defense while her key coalition partner boycotted the swearing-in ceremony for 31 members of the proposed 35-member Cabinet. Sri Lanka - 's presidents often take top Cabinet positions in an effort to consolidate power. Kumaratunga naming herself as defense minister is in line with her criticism that the former government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was too soft on Tamil Tiger rebels.
Lakshman Kadirgamar a hard-liner against the separatist rebels was sworn is as foreign minister.
Kadirgamar, who lost a battle for the seat of prime minister earlier this week to Mahinda Rajapakse, was also handed the transportation ministry on Saturday.
The new government is scheduled to go before Parliament for its first session on April 22.
Kumaratunga's family has a long history of rule on this island nation off the southern tip of India. Her father was once prime minister and her mother became the world's first woman prime minister in 1960, taking the post after her husband was assassinated.
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