May 21, Colombo: In addition to Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, five other Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians will join the government, according to sources.

Media reports according to sources say that MPs Mahinda Amaraweera, Duminda Dissanayake, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Jagath Pushpakumara and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake are due to join the government.

However, only one of them would hold a cabinet post. Only three of the other four MPs are due to be appointed as state ministers, the reports say.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was sworn in yesterday before the President as the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of the new all-party government.

Although the SLFP has decided to support the government, it has not decided to accept the posts and these SLFP members are to join the government in such an environment.

The government has focused on restricting the cabinet to about 25 members, including the president and prime minister. Thirteen of the 23 ministers have already been sworn in.

However, despite Sri Lanka facing a severe economic crisis, no new Finance Minister has been appointed so far. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to take the Finance Minister portfolio.