Non-cabinet minister (Sri Lanka)


In Sri Lanka, a Non-cabinet minister is politician who is a Minister, but not a member of the Cabinet of Ministers. A non-cabinet minister is ranked below a cabinet minister, but above a deputy minister. A non-cabinet minister can be in charge of a ministry, be attached a ministry of a cabinet minister or be without a ministry. A cabinet minister may hold another non-cabinet minister post with a different subject concurrently.

Appointment

Under the of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President on the advice of the Prime Minister can appoint a Member of Parliament as a Minister who will not be a member of the Cabinet of Ministers and assign subjects and functions, as well as ministries which are to be in charge of. The President can change the subjects and functions assigned to the Minister.

History

The appointment of Non-cabinet ministers was set out under the Constitution of 1978. President J. R. Jayawardene appointed non-cabinet ministers and district ministers. President Ranasinghe Premadasa appointed both non-cabinet ministers and ministers of state. President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed non-cabinet ministers with the title of project ministers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed non-cabinet minister, project ministers and senior ministers. President Maithripala Sirisena appointed non-cabinet ministers with the title of state minister. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed state ministers.

Powers and duties

A Cabinet Minister by publishing in the Gazette can delegate to a non-cabinet minister any power or duty coming under the subject or function assigned to the cabinet minister by law. The Minister is responsible to the Cabinet of Ministers and to Parliament.

Privileges of office

Salary

A Minister or State Minister would receive a salary of Rs. 140,000 ; paid monthly from the respective ministry budget. In addition, since all ministers are members of parliament they are entitled to allowances and benefits of parliamentarians.

Official residence and office

A Minister is entitled to an official residence, they have an office and personal staff allocated from their ministry.

Travel

Each minister is entitled to three vehicles, which includes an official vehicle and security vehicles provided and maintained by their ministry. For domestic air travel, helicopters from the No. 4 Helicopter Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force are charted by the ministry.

Security

Traditionally security for the ministers have been provided by the Sri Lanka Police. During emergencies military units have been allocated to bolster security to certain ministers based on treat levels. At present the Ministerial Security Division is in charge of security of ministers.

Order of precedence

In the Sri Lankan order of precedence, deputy ministers are placed after the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, but before the Chief Government Whip.
In the Sri Lankan order of precedence, non-cabinet ministers are placed after the Governor of the Province and the Chief Minister.

List of current state ministers

List of current state ministers in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet is as follows;