Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake retained the key finance minister portfolio and reappointed Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister on Monday as the Indian Ocean island nation targets stronger recovery from a draining financial crisis.

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake retained the finance and defense portfolios as he administered the oath of office to 21 cabinet ministers on Monday after his coalition won a historic supermajority in the parliamentary election held last week.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake retained the key defence and finance portfolios in a new cabinet he announed Monday after sweeping snap parliamentary elections last week.

Dissanayake's decision to call polls nearly 10 months ahead of schedule and secure legislative backing for his agenda was vindicated when his National People's Power (NPP) won 159 seats in the 225-member assembly.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka swore in a 21-member Cabinet on Monday, fulfilling a campaign promise to reduce government spending. Dissanayaka's NPP party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority in Thursday's election,