Can Sri Lanka Function with 45 Ministers?

Abstract

A white paper published by Verité Research recommended that a maximum of 15 cabinet ministries, with no more than 45 ministers in total, could create a rational structure for the government. This number aligns with Article 47(1) of the Constitution, which states that the number of cabinet and non-cabinet ministers should not exceed 30 and 40, respectively. However, from the 1st Parliament to the present, several governments have appointed excessively large executives. The UPFA government in 2014 appointed the largest executive to date, with 108 cabinet and non-cabinet ministers combined. As of December 2023, the executive consists of 58 ministers in total, including 20 cabinet ministers and 38 state ministers. The following compilation of infographics provides a breakdown of this trend from the 1st to the 9th Parliament, questioning why so many ministers continue to be appointed without a clear rationale.