The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Prime Minister, appoint from among Members of Parliament, Ministers, to be in charge of the Ministries so determined. (3) The President shall be the Minister in charge of the subject of Defence and may exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of any Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers or any Minister who is not a member of the Cabinet of Ministers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, for not exceeding fourteen days during a period within which any subject or function is not assigned to any such Minister under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article or under paragraph (1) of Article 45 and accordingly, any reference in the Constitution or any written law to the Minster to whom such subject or function is assigned, shall be read and construed as a reference to the President: Provided however, preceding provisions of this paragraph shall not preclude the President from assigning any subject or function to himself in consultation with the Prime Minister and accordingly, any reference in the Constitution or any written law to the Minister to whom such subject or function is assigned, shall be read and construed as a reference to the President. (4) The President may at any time change the assignment of subjects and functions and the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. Such changes shall not affect the continuity of the Cabinet of Ministers and the continuity of its responsibility to Parliament. 45. (1) The President may, in consultation with the Prime Minister, appoint from among Members of Parliament, Ministers who shall not be members of the Cabinet of Ministers. (2) The President may, in consultation with the Prime Minister where he considers such consultation to be Ministers who are not members of the Cabinet of Ministers 51