The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 47. (1) The total number of (a) Ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers shall not exceed thirty; and (b) Ministers who are not members of the Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall not, in the aggregate, exceed forty. (2) The Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function under the provisions of the Constitution unless he (a) is removed by a writing under the hand of the President; (b) resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President; or (c) ceases to be a Member of Parliament. (3) A Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, a Minister who is not a member of the Cabinet of Ministers and a Deputy Minister, shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function under the provisions of the Constitution unless he (a) is removed from office under the hand of the President in consultation with the Prime Minister; (b) resigns from office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President; or (c) ceases to be a Member of Parliament. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (1) of this Article, where the recognized political party or the independent group which obtains highest number of 53 Tenure of office of the Prime Minister, and the limitation of numbers and tenure of office of Ministers and Deputy Ministers