New
corp bosses yet to be named
Most Government Corporations saw their top seats being vacated with
the positions yet to be filled, after the new Government took office.
A Presidential Secretariat spokesman told The Sunday Times that
it was "customary" that the entire board of management
of a corporation resigns along with the chairperson not only when
a change of Government takes place but also when a new minister
takes charge. He said that although it was not laid down by law,
top officials resign as in the event of them being dismissed they
cannot be re-appointed to such posts.
Although
the President appoints heads of corporations, other members are
appointed by the relevant minister. Presidential office sources
said the appointments are likely to be made within the next week.
The recently appointed Chairperson of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Jaliya Medagama told The Sunday Times that the other members of
the board are yet to be appointed.
The
Sunday Times learns that selection of the new Secretaries to ministries
is being done and will be finalised within the next three days.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mrs. Sumithra Rahubadda
told The Sunday Times that by Friday evening the Ministry had received
the resignation letter of Charlie Mahendran, Permanent Representative
of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.
At
a press conference on Friday held at former Foreign Minister Tyronne
Fernando's residence he had stated that the Foreign Ministry had
requested many high commissioners and ambassadors to return. In
another development, the Sri Lankan Chapter of the global anti-corruption
watchdog, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has commenced
a "Key Posts Project" to monitor and report on appointments
made to key 'high posts' of government and to the diplomatic service.
The
TISL said it had identified a definitive need for this action plan,
having analysed past acts of successive governments. It also said
that there is a common consensus among the general public that both
the 17th Amendment and the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts
have been made redundant and have failed to meet the desired objectives.
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