The new Cabinet

It took Premadasa a little over a year to take control of the country, since he had first to quell the JVP insurrection in the south and ensure the departure of the Indians. Thus he had just about three years to carry out whatever programmes he intended. That period can be divided into two sections, distinguishable through a change in the structure of Sri Lankan politics.

The monolithic structure of the UNP broke up along with the overwhelming power of its leader, which Jayewardene had built up and which Premadasa had unashamedly used. This occurred because Dissanayake and Athulathmudali led a revolt against Premadasa from within the UNP. This did not receive as much support as they had expected but it made quite clear the resentment against Premadasa's one-man show.

The charge was to a great extent true, as he had sidelined the two most distinguished and effective members of his parliamentary group. The process began with the 1990 cabinet reshuffle, which took place in March, less than a month after de Zoysa's murder. When he appointed Wijetunge as Prime Minister in 1989 Premadasa had claimed it was only for a year. A year later, with his position secure, Premadasa could now make his real views about the other claimants clear. Dissanayake was dropped from the cabinet, a startling innovation in Sri Lankan politics where reshuffles rarely involved anyone being removed.