Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga has appointed her brother as the country's new foreign minister, to replace Lakshman Kadirgamar, who was assassinated earlier this month by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels.
A presidential statement says Anura Bandaranaike will retain his current post as tourist minister, but that Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama will take over his Industry and Investment portfolios.
Also Monday, Sri Lanka's chief justice said the country's Supreme Court will rule Friday when the next presidential election should be held.
The opposition says Mrs. Kumaratunga's second and final six-year term ends in December. But the ruling Freedom Party insists she is entitled to be in office until the end of next year, because she ended her first term one year ahead of schedule by calling snap polls.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AP and AFP.
