Viral List of NPP Cabinet Ministers is False

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As the presidential and parliamentary elections approach, a surge of misleading posts is being spread on social media, particularly targeting the emerging political party, the National People’s Power (NPP). These posts include false claims, altered videos, and fabricated statements aimed at influencing public perception and creating confusion among voters.

Social Media Posts

A list circulating on social media claims that the National People’s Power (NPP) has already nominated its cabinet of ministers ahead of the presidential election on September 21, 2024.

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With the presidential election scheduled for September 21, 2024, where Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power (NPP), is contesting, a list of supposed cabinet ministers is being shared widely on social media. The list claims to be the official nominations by the NPP in preparation for forming a government.

We decided to do a fact check on this.

Fact Check

Investigation

To verify this claim, we reached out to the NPP media unit. They confirmed that the viral list is false and clarified that no decisions have been made regarding the appointment of cabinet ministers. They also highlighted a critical point: even if Anura Kumara Dissanayake wins the presidential election, the NPP cannot appoint cabinet ministers immediately because they currently hold only three seats in Parliament. The appointment of ministers can only happen after a parliamentary election, which is expected to be held after a few months, and only if the NPP wins a majority.

The NPP media unit also stated that if their party comes into power, they have committed to appointing only 25 cabinet ministers. However, no decisions have been made about who these ministers will be.

Verification of the NPP Manifesto

We further investigated by reviewing the NPP’s election manifesto. On page 194, the manifesto clearly states that the NPP government will limit the number of cabinet ministers to 25, with an equal number of deputy ministers. The manifesto also specifies that there will be no state ministers in their government.

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Conclusion

The claims circulating on social media regarding the NPP’s nomination of a cabinet of ministers are false. The NPP has not made any such nominations, and the list being shared is not official. Any official decisions regarding cabinet appointments will only be made after the parliamentary elections if the NPP secures a majority. The NPP’s manifesto further clarifies their intent to have a streamlined cabinet, contrary to the false claims circulating online.