UNP MP Dunesh Gankanda has been appointed State Minister of Environment. 

His appointment was announced not too long after a video of him meeting with President Sirisena and his Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was leaked to the media. 

President's brother Dudley Sirisena was also visible in the video. 

With Gankanda's deflection, the number of deflections from the UNP now stands at five.