News
Odd couples share governance as tug-of-war continues
It looks as if there are parallel governments running in the country in the past few days, with, not only two persons claiming to be Prime Minister (PM), but also with duplicate Ministers.
While more than 15 Cabinet Ministers, along with several State and Deputy Ministers have been sworn in, with Ranil Wickremesinghe still claiming he is PM, there is enormous confusion regarding functions at ministries and State institutions.
A highly placed source at the Ministry of Lands & Parliamentary Reforms which, among others, is responsible for providing office equipment, transport facilities and appointing personal staff for MPs, told the Sunday Times that, though Cabinet had been dissolved and a new one appointed, many United National Party (UNP) MPs who were Ministers, have not handed in their vehicles while still retaining their staff. The Ministry itself is currently mired in confusion, with President Sirisena not having appointed a subject minister yet, and the Ministry Secretary’s position also vacant, following the dissolution of the Cabinet.
Some staff members of UNP Ministers have voluntarily handed over their vehicles, though they have not been officially informed of their dismissal or otherwise. “I got a call on Friday from the Transport Manager of our ministry, who politely asked if I was going to hand over my vehicle. He was not insistent about it. They too are confused,” said a member on the staff of Minister Gayantha Karunathilake.
Meanwhile, an aide to Megapolis & Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka too, claimed there had been “no official communication” informing Minister Ranawaka of his removal and, as such, he continues to serve in that capacity. “They, initially, reduced his security to that of an MP, but even those police personnel have now returned,” the aide said. Minister Ranawaka visited his ministry on Friday and met with senior officials.
“I am the Home Affairs Minister according to the Constitution,” claimed Minister Vajira Abeywardena.
He described the present situation as Constitutional terrorism, which should be defeated by all means. “The world is currently viewing us as a vulnerable country, and when politicians act in such a way, how would they judge the people of the country.”
He said all the whole staff who worked under the Ministers including the PM, has been completely removed. He added, these actions are illegal but, however, will face the situation, even with limited staff around them. According to Minister Abeywardena, even the PM’s personal driver who has been working under him for the past 35 years, has also been transferred.
“We are requesting the government servants not to take orders from an illegal government, as they will be held responsible for carrying out actions of an illegal government,” he said.
While the situation remains fluid, Secretaries to a large number of ministries were appointed throughout this week, with some reappointed to their previous posts.
The list of newly appointed Ministry Secretaries until yesterday are as follows:
- S. Hettiarachchi- Ministry of Skills Development & Vocational Training
- Dharshana Senanayake- Ministry of Culture, Internal Affairs & Regional Development
- N.A. Sisira Kumara- Ministry of Irrigation, Water Resources & Disaster Management
- S.R. Attygalle- Ministry of Finance
- G.S. Vithanage- Ministry of Transport
- Hemasiri Fernando- Ministry of Defence
- D.M.A.R.B. Dissanayake- Ministry of Mahaweli & Environment Development
- R.P. Ariyasinghe- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- L. Jayampathi- Ministry of Ports & Shipping
- K.D.S. Ruwanchandra- Ministry of Agriculture
- Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda- Ministry of Power & Renewable Energy
- Padmasiri Jayamanna- Ministry of Education
- H.T. Kamal Padmasiri- Ministry of Provincial Councils & Local Government
- V. Sihvagnanasothi- Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation & Northern Development
- M.M.P.K. Mayadunne- Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources Development & Rural Economic Affairs
- S.M. Mohammed- Ministry of Upcountry New Villages, Infrastructure & Community Development
- S. Hettiarachchi- Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife.
Among the other new appointments made this week were: Sarath Kongahage- Acting Chairman, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Somaratne Dissanayake- Acting Chairman, Independent Television Network and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Sanath Weerasuriya- Acting Chairman, National Film Corporation and Shantha Bandara- Acting Chairman, Selasine.
State newspaper organisation Lake House too has seen major changes, with Wasantha Priya Ramanayake appointed Acting Chairman and Dinesh Dodangoda appointed Editorial Director. New Editors to several newspapers too have been named, with Sunil Jayasekara and Dinesh Weerawansa appointed Editors of Silumina and The Sunday Observer, respectively.