World Bulletin/News Desk

Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has announced on Monday that a parliamentary election will be held after the new national unity government completes its 100-day programme for good governance.

Addressing his new 27-minister cabinet at a simple swearing-in ceremony in the capital, Colombo, Sirisena reiterated that Sri Lanka’s "unity government" consisting of 49 political parties will be tested at a parliamentary election in three months.

“The government that is elected at a parliamentary election, three months from now, will be the government proper, mandated by the people to take the work forward,” he said.

Sirisena said that all new appointees must bear in mind that this is a temporary government for a period of three months and requested them to “truly be of service to the people and win their favour.”

Eight deputy ministers and 11 state ministers were also appointed to a cabinet that represents the rainbow coalition that swept Sirisena into office at a tightly contested presidential election last Thursday.

President Sirisena also reminded the new appointees that there was a sizable population that did not vote for his multi-party coalition and voted for his opponent.

“We must win their support and this cannot be done if there is post-election violence and partisan politics,” he said, adding that he was extremely disturbed by the few incidents that occurred after the conclusion of the presidential election.

The Sri Lankan president also warned that action would be taken against anyone, irrespective of their ministerial status, found complicit in any violence or corruption.

“My appeal to all of you is to honour the public trust reposed in us and to discharge our public duty with commitment and diligence, and to lead by example.”

Indirectly referring to the past regime, President Sirisena also said that public interest, not personal gain, should be the driving force behind any politician, adding, in the recent past, the image of the politician suffered tremendously due to authoritarianism and corruption.

Among the key cabinet portfolios assigned was the Ministry of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs, with the coverage of Hindu affairs a new addition. The country's north, which was one of the areas worst affected by Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war, which ended in 2009, is predominantly Hindu.