Cabinet reshuffle this week

By Anura Maitipe

A long awaited cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place this week as over 20 UNP parliamentarians are expected to join the government -- and several of them are expected to take over Ministerial portfolios, the Sunday Observer learns.

A prominent UNP member who plans to cross over, said they would not quit the UNP though they join the Government

Meanwhile several senior Ministers have volunteered to sacrifice their portfolios to accommodate the new comers from the Opposition.

Four SLMC MPs will also join the government along with the UNP MPs, sources added.

Each cabinet minister would be entrusted with one portfolio and be paid the same salary drawn as a Member of Parliament.

The salaries of Cabinet Ministers have been reduced to the level of MPs to avoid the additional cost of maintaining an expanded Cabinet.