BY Buddhika Samaraweera

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reshuffled the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday (3), with two Cabinet Ministers being removed, one being newly appointed, and three cabinet ministerial posts being swapped with senior members of the Government.

Accordingly, Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, who were recently seen criticising the current Government’s policies, have been removed from the said ministerial posts.

Weerawansa has been replaced as the Industries Minister by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Member of Parliament (MP) S.B. Dissanayake.

Gammanpila has been replaced as Energy Minister by Gamini Lokuge, who was the Power Minister, while the latter’s Power portfolio has now been given to Pavithra Wanniarachchi, who earlier helmed the Transport Ministry.

At the time of going to print, State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments, and Motor Car Industry, and Community Police Services Dilum Amunugama was tipped to be appointed as the Transport Minister.

Weerawansa and Gammanpila, who were removed by the President from their ministerial posts, were both unavailable for comment.
Their removal comes after a total of 11 political parties representing the incumbent SLPP-led Government, including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the National Freedom Front (NFF) of which Weerawansa is the Leader, the Democratic Left Front, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the National Congress, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) of which Gammanpila is the Leader, the Sri Lanka People’s Party, the Vijaya Dharani National Council, the People’s United Front, and the Yuthukama National Organisation, launched a new national manifesto titled “Mulu Ratama Hari Magata” (Taking the Nation on the Correct Path) on Wednesday (2).

Courtesy:The Morning