No chief of staff, only consultant for Ravi

The Cabinet of Ministers has modified and offered a new designation in place of a Chief of Staff for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Karunanayake had recommended Sarath Wickremenayake, a Chartered Accountant for the post. The Cabinet, however, decided last Tuesday that he be hired as a Consultant. Wickremenayake had served as a Director of the National Development Bank and serves in a number of other boards.

His monthly allowance and other perks are to be decided by a three-member Cabinet Sub Committee headed by Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama.
The sub-committee was named after President Sirisena pointed out that some ministers have failed to adhere to guidelines laid down for appointment of advisors to Cabinet Ministers. Other members of the sub-committee are Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe.
The sub-committee will lay down specific criteria to be considered when selecting persons to be appointed as advisors. It will also determine the allowances provided to them and the number of advisors ministers will be entitled to appoint.

Another proposal by Foreign Minister Karunanayake to allocate Visumpaya (former Acland House) at Lily Street, Kompannaveediya, Colombo 2 as the official residence of the Foreign Minister was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to make its recommendations.
Thereafter, ministers have decided that the Foreign Secretary should make the Committee’s recommendation available to the Cabinet of Ministers through his own minister.

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