The motion to increase the number of Cabinet and other ministerial portfolios proposed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was approved by the Parliament with a majority of 127 votes.

143 MPs voted for it while 16 opposed.

64 MPs were not present in the Chamber when the vote was taken.

The JVP MPs voted against the motion along with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna MPs, Jathika Nidahas Peramuna MPs and Udaya Gammanpila. The TNA MPs were not present in the Chamber. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was another prominent absentee.

The proposal will now enable the government to appoint 48 Cabinet Ministers and 45 State and Deputy Ministers.