"The Cabinet reshuffle is no different from the proverbial balagiridosaya; it's always not today, tomorrow," a prominent Cabinet Minister representing the SLFP told Asian Mirror.

President Maithripala Sirisena's public declaration that the cabinet reshuffle would take place before the Vesak ceremony ended up being a damp squib. Although some SLFP stalwarts confirmed that the reshuffle was certain, no one was certain about its time-frame.

According to multiple government sources, the main reason for the delay is the UNP ministers' reluctance to let go of their current portfolios.

"No one wants to change their current positions. Some have even threatened to fire salvos at the government, if the President decides to change their ministries," the Minister who spoke to Asian Mirror said.

"There is no resistance to the Cabinet reshuffle from the SLFP. We wholeheartedly support the President's move. The pressure is from the UNP," he explained. 

Top-level political sources said on Wednesday that the President and the Prime Minister have reached an agreement on the reshuffle. But, the UNP Ministers forming the majority of the current Cabinet have different views. 

"On the brighter side," the Minister added, "the President is still determined to proceed with his plan. Therefore, we believe that the reshuffle is only a matter of Time."