The appointment of new Cabinet will be delayed for two more days mainly due to disagreements between the UNP and President Maithripala Sirisena over several key portfolios. 

It is learnt that Sirisena wants to retain the Police Department which he recently gazetted under the Ministry of Defence. 

The UNP, however, has opposed this plan and demanded the Police Department be brought under the Ministry of Law and Order. The UNP has stressed that a senior Parliamentarian of the party should be put in charge of the Ministry of Law and Order. 

There is still no final agreement over the SLFP ministers have expressed willingness to join the UNF cabinet. 

The UNP earlier announced that the new Cabinet will take oaths on Monday. Informed party sources, however, confirmed on Monday morning that the Cabinet is likely to take oaths on Wednesday.