UNP national list MPs Malik Samarawickrama and Thilak Marapana who volunteered to stay out of the Cabinet have been appointed to Cabinet at the last moment. 

Mano Ganesan and Rishad Bathiudeen too have received cabinet positions, despite their claims on opting of the Cabinet. 

Commenting on the appointments of Ganesan and Bathiudeen, Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the United National Front, as a political alliance, arrived at a decision to give them ministerial positiona. 

"We thought their appointments were necessary to ensure that the minority communities are duly represented in the Cabinet," Abeywardena added. 

Ravi Karunananayake too returned to the Cabinet as the Minister of Power and Energy and Enterprise Development.