Swearing in of the new Cabinet ministers has been split into 02 stages due to SLPP founder - Basil Rajapaksa requesting cabinet ministerial portfolios for 02 party members who are largely unpopular among the public, reports say.

Accordingly, the swearing in of these two MPs are to take place later.

However, the SLPP is said to have informed that swearing in of cabinet ministers cannot be done on two instances.

It is said that this situation has also further fuelled the President's decision to go to England for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

'Sri Lanka Mirror' learns that the aforementioned MPs are Johnston Fernando and Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

It is said that the Basil Rajapaksa led SLPP has given a list of 11 MPs to the President for ministerial portfolios.

Namal declines?

Meanwhile, it is reported that former minister Namal Rajapakse has informed the SLPP that he will not accept any ministerial post.