Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne confirmed this when contacted, but said a final decision was yet to be taken.

The matter is under discussion with the president, he said.

According to political sources, the appointment letters will be handed over this week.

SLFP MPs not accused of bribery or corruption will thus be offered the deputy ministerial portfolios, said the sources.

Eleven new ministers, five state ministers and 10 deputy ministers - all from the SLFP - took oaths before the president recently.