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Move
to appoint new ministers The President in her latest letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday night said she believed it was a waste of money to appoint seven new ministers and a deputy minister when the Government already had 58 ministers and deputies. The President said that despite some ministers being designated as non-Cabinet Ministers, the expenses would be the same as they would get the same privileges and facilities. The President said she agreed on six of the seven appointments for the sake of cohabitation. She said she did not want a minister for disaster management - a subject that was now directly under her purview. Friday's compromise came after an exchange of tough letters with the Prime Minister on Thursday insisting that the government's recommendations must be accepted by the President. President Kumaratunga said a Disaster Management Council already existed under her and it would not be suitable for a non-Cabinet Minister to co-ordinate and monitor subjects coming under Cabinet Ministers. This non-cabinet post was to be given to Sarathchandra Rajakaruna who represents the Dompe electorate adjoining the President's Attanagalle stronghold. "Constitutionally, the authority for this lies with the President," she said underlining her executive powers as head of state. She has suggested that Mr. Rajakaruna be given a portfolio held by ministers who have more than one portfolio.While agreeing to the new appointments, the President has pointed out that the PA ran the Government with only 21 ministers for three years and the number increased to 42 after the PA won the General Elections in 2000 - an increase the UNP criticised at the time as being excessive. The Sunday Times learns that the new non-Cabinet ministers will be sworn in next week, with Mr. Rajakaruna possibly assigned a different portfolio. |
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