Only nineteen State Ministers have been assigned duties and functions, informed political sources said.

Eight of them are functioning as State Ministers in the ministries held by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Several state ministers, including Wimalaweera Dissanayake, have openly expressed their displeasure over the reluctance of the part of Cabinet ministers to assign duties to their State Ministers.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has clearly instructed Cabinet ministers to assign duties and functions to state ministers without delay.

President's Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara has written letters to all ministry secretaries on the same matter.