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President promised me Sports Ministry: Arjuna
By Prasanna Sanjeewa Tennakoon
Arjuna Ranatunga who is currently embroiled in a controversy with his party leadership over not appointing him as the Sports Minister, claimed that President Kumaratunga had promised him the appointment but had not honoured the promise and thus caused an injustice to him.

The Colombo District UPFA parliamentarian said he entered politics in 2001 on the invitation of the President and Minister Mangala Samaraweera, even though he knew the PA would lose in the general election of that year, because he wanted to serve sports in the country, but now his ambition has been blunted.

He said he believed that people themselves who invited him to enter politics may have now felt he is not competent to manage the Sports Ministry. Mr. Ranatunga said from the time he played cricket for the Sri Lanka national cricket team he had observed that the game of cricket was corrupt and he had thus wanted to eradicate those evils but current developments have denied him the opportunity to do anything.

He said that he didn't accept the deputy portfolio of the Ministry allocated to Mr. Anura Bandaranaike since he believed in principles and sticking to them. He also said that offering him a portfolio for the sake of offering one does not satisfy him.

He added that even though he didn't accept the deputy ministership from the Government he would continue to remain an MP and give whatever possible support to the people as a mark of respect to those who voted for him.

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