Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s has expressed his displeasure over the new cabinet consisted with new comers and insisted that if such cabinet was appointed he would become an independent MP reliable political sources said. The Prime Minister has expressed his concerns at a rucal meeting with President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ over the appointment of a new cabinet last night (Jan. 17), sources further said.
According to the reports, 18 cabinet ministers were to be sworn in today. It has not named a single senior member including Bandula Gunawardena, Dinesh Gunawardena and Keheliya Rambukwella.
Only Dinesh Gunawardena and Dilum Amunugama have been nominated from the previous cabinet, while 18 state ministers including Kanchana Wijesekera, Roshan Ranasinghe, Vidura Wickramanayake, Janaka Wakkumbura and Shehan Semasinghe have been nominated for the cabinet. But Namal Rajapaksa had not been nominated to that cabinet.Although Minister Jonston Fernando too included in the cabinet he has declined to receive it.
It is reported that the issue has been heated up with the President suggesting that the Prime Minister should also resign if the seniors leave. It is said that Dullas Alahapperuma, Dinesh Gunawardena and Ramesh Pathirana have been nominated for the post of Prime Minister.
However, it is reported that several senior ministers who lost their portfolios following the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s protest against this proposal have joined the Prime Minister in expressing their disapproval to the President. Sarath Weerasekara, who was not a senior but was the Minister of Public Security, has said that he could leave the ministry if the dollars come after his resignation.
They have told the President that if the President’s proposal is implemented, they will have no choice but to become independent.
However, internal government sources say that the 18 new cabinet ministers will be sworn in today.
The sources say that Mahinda Rajapaksa will also be sworn in as the Prime Minister.
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