New Sri Lanka cabinet appointed

President Rajapakse favoured his Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Sri Lanka's president has named his new cabinet but there is no place for allies in the Sinhala nationalist JVP or Buddhist monk party.

Mahinda Rajapakse appointed a 25-strong cabinet following his presidential election win last Thursday.

The JVP was said to be unhappy with the posts offered and declined them. The all-monk JHU said it had not expected posts and would support the government.

President Rajapakse will also be defence and finance minister.

On Monday, hardliner Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was sworn in as prime minister.

No sooner than the cabinet was sworn in it suffered its first casualty - the new skills and employment promotion minister quit saying he deserved a more high profile post.

Manifesto

The swearing in of the cabinet was delayed from Monday because of the horse-trading over jobs.

Sources say the JVP, a strong ally of Mr Rajapakse in the election, was offered five portfolios but disagreements led the party to decide not to take any.

Anura Bandaranaike (L), tipped to be PM, becomes tourism minister

The all-monk JHU, or National Heritage Party, said it had not expected any posts.

JHU spokesman Udaya Gammanpila welcomed the trimming of the cabinet to 25 from as many as 45 in previous governments.

"We are not joining the government but will support it as long as the president implements his manifesto," Mr Gammanpila said.

The JVP has yet to comment on the cabinet and was expected to call a press conference later on Wednesday.

Analysts say this may point to an early parliamentary election to allow President Rajapakse to strengthen the representation of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Polls are not necessary for more than five years, but the president is allowed to call an election.

Foreign minister

The minister who resigned, Sripathi Suriayaarachchi, told the BBC he had not been consulted.

He said the skills and employment promotion portfolio was "non existent and previously unheard of", adding: "What I was given does not fit my qualifications."

Mr Suriayaarachchi also criticised the failure to appoint JVP ministers.

In other cabinet appointments, the new prime minister was also given the disaster relief portfolio.

Mangala Samaraweera was named foreign minister and Anura Bandaranaike, the brother of outgoing President Chandrika Kumaratunga, becomes tourism minister.

Mr Bandaranaike had been tipped as prime minister but during the election campaign criticised Mr Rajapakse's alliance with the JVP.

Mr Rajapakse was sworn in on Saturday after winning just over 50% of the vote in last Thursday's election.