Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Atttanayake took oaths as the Ministry of Health before President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago.

The swearing in ceremony took place at the President’s Residence in Kandy, which is also the hometown of Attanayake.

The position was previously held by Maithripala Sirisena who crossed over to the common opposition to be its presidential candidate at the presidential election.

Lalith Dissanayake served as the Acting Health Minister since Maithripala Sirisena’s defection from the government.

A large number of ruling party members , Ministers and senior officials took part in the swearing in ceremony of Tissa Attanayake.

He previously held a cabinet portfolio under the UNP government from 2001 December to 2004. Before that Attanayake was the Deputy Minister of Higher Education.