The heightened misunderstanding between the President and the Prime Minister has put on hold three key appointments proposed by the Prime Minister in the country’s financial sector.

The three appointments proposed by the Prime Minister are Dinesh Weerakkoady as the Governor of the Central Bank, Nissanka Nanayakkara as the Chairman of the People’s Bank and Ronald Perera to the Bank of Ceylon as its Chairman.

Although it has been over a month since the Prime Minister assumed duties as the Minister of Finance, he has not been able to make key appointments to the Ministry or the institutions coming under the Finance Ministry.

The appointment of Muditha Peiris to the post of Chairman of Litro also hit a snag and was later approved by the President after heavy lobbying.

A former senior minister of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) told Lankasara that a similar situation had arisen under Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Chandrika Bandaranaike and that it had adversely affected the country’s progress.

He further said that it is unfortunate that such a cold war is on between the President and the Prime Minister when the country is facing a severe financial crisis.