Ranatunga sworn in as minister

Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed as a junior minister in Sri Lanka's recently-elected new government. He was sworn in on Friday as the deputy minister of industry, tourism and investment promotion, and intends to use his high profile to boost Sri Lankan tourism, an untapped market that is beginning to show signs of an upturn in the aftermath of the country's long civil war.

"I will try my best to boost the tourism industry in the country with my past international experience gained through cricket," said Ranatunga, after he had earlier been overlooked for the role of sports minister.

Ranatunga captained Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in 1996, but quit cricket in 2000 to follow in the footsteps of his father, Reggae, who was also a minister.