By

Fagani Weerakoon

Former minister Ravi Karunanayake who was forced to step down from his ministerial portfolio owing to acts committed in his capacity as the Minister of Finance that amounts to conflict of interest, seems to be back in action with the blessings of PM Wickremesinghe.

According to reliable sources, he is given an office and staff facilities at room 105 at the Temple Trees as the Head of Special Rural Infrastructure Development Programme (SRIDP) – 2017.

Unlike many other parliamentarians, he is circulating memos in government letterheads. Such a letter was circulated among United National Party (UNP) ministers, deputy ministers, state ministers, MPs and electoral organizers with copies to the Prime Minister, Ministers Kabir Hashim, Sagala Ratnayaka, Malik Samarawickreme and six other ministers.

The letter dated 22 August 2017 states that considering the immediate important socio economic needs of the rural people, the government has decided to allocate a special development fund amounting to Rs 20 million for each electorate.

This many see as a move taken by the UNP to face the upcoming local and provincial polls.

Courtesy: Ceylon Today