PM writes to President expressing disagreement over appointment of acting ministers

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has written to the President stating that the appointment of acting ministers to fill the void created by the resignation of Muslim ministers, was unconstitutional.

According to sources the letter points out that the United National Party (UNP) had nominated the names of Rajitha Senaratne, Malik Samarawickrama, and Ranjith Madduma Bandara to fill these vacant slots.

However, President Maithripala Sirisena had rejected this list of nominees and had appointed three other acting ministers.

The Prime Minister, in his letter, had noted that the 19th constitutional amendment prohibits the appointment of acting ministers in the event of the resignation of a minister.

Mr. Wickremesinghe had further said that according to the 19th amendment, ministers must be appointed upon the recommendations of the Prime Minister.

At present, no replacement has been made to the vacancy created after the resignation of parliamentarian Abdul Haleem as Minister of Posts and Muslim Religious Affairs.

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