The Cabinet of the United National Front government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will have only twenty ministers reliable sources said yesterday.

In addition, there will be ten other Ministers (non-cabinet rank) and twenty Deputy Ministers, they added.

The cabinet of twenty will include senior people in the UNP, crossovers from the PA, Prof. G. L. Peiris, S. B. Dissanayake, Mahinda Wijesekera, Lakshman Kiriella, Rauff Hakeem and A. Thondaman.

The contestants for the post of speaker are likely to be John Amaratunga and Joseph Michael Perera.

Sources said the Cabinet rank will be followed by Ministers rank and the Deputy Ministers will be third in position.

President’s Counsel K. N. Choksy is tipped to be the Finance Minister and MEP cross over Bandula Gunawardena is to be made Minister for Public Finance.

UNP Chairman Charitha Ratwatta is to be appointed as Secretary to the Treasury.

Professor G. L. Peiris is to be given Industrial Development, S. B. Dissanayake, Agriculture and Samurdhi, Mahinda Wijesekera, Fisheries, Lakshman Kiriella, Plantation Industries, Rauff Hakeem, Ports and Shipping, A. Thondaman, Rural industries development and Estate Affairs.

Tyronne Feranado is tipped to handle Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana, Defence, W. J. M. Lokubandara Education and Cultural Affairs and M. H. Mohammed, Transport and Environment. Gamini Athukorale to handle Airports and Aviation.

UNP sources said that Rukman Senanayake was likely to be given Mahaweli Development. Ministers outside the cabinet are likely to include Dr. Rajitha Senaratne (lands), Ravi Karunanayake (Commerce and Consumer Goods) and , Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, R. A. D. Sirisena, Mahinda Samarasinghe (labour), Vajira Abeywardena, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Johnston Fernando.

Young members Sagala Ratnayaka, Naveen Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Kabir Hashim are reported to be among the twenty deputy Ministers.