Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today expanded his cabinet by inducting three more ministers, including two former loyalists of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.
At least two former loyalists of Rajapaksa in the Freedom Party now headed by Sirisena were given deputy ministerial positions.
United National Party (UNP) MP Palitha Thewarapperuma, United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP's Manusha Nanayakkara and Lakshman Senewiratne have been sworn in as Deputy Ministers.
Rajapaksa has posed an open challenge to Sirisena with a well-attended public rally held mid in March here. Analysts say the inclusion of two former Rajpaksa loyalists could be a move to offset the challenge coming from the strongman.
Sirisena's party hierarchy which threatened to take disciplinary action against those who would attend the Rajapaksa rally ignored them for action after the rally.
Rajapaksa handed Sirisena the party leadership after the latter was elected President in January defeating Rajapaksa.
Sirisena was the common opposition challenger to Rajapaksa then. Rajapaksa as the party leader at the time had sacked Sirisena from the party when he left the government to side with the opposition.
