With enactment of the new constitution of the Dominion of Ceylon in 1947 the Executive Council was replaced by a National Cabinet.

[4][5] Constitutionally, the Cabinet of Ministers charged with the direction and control of the Government of the Republic and is collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament.

The cabinet meets on a regular basis, usually weekly on a Tuesday to discuss the most important issues of government policy.

[7] In addition, since all ministers are members of parliament they are entitled to allowances and benefits of parliamentarians.

Since the 1980s these were allocated to ministers as their official residences due to security threats and the surrounding area, including part of Bauddhaloka Mawatha was closed to the public.

During emergencies military units have been allocated to bolster security to certain ministers based on threat levels.

In the Sri Lankan order of precedence, the cabinet ministers are placed above the former presidents but below the provincial governors (within their respective province).