BY Buddhika Samaraweera
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (4) requested all political parties represented in the Parliament to assume ministerial posts and contribute to resolving the crisis situation in the country, before appointing four ministers to maintain the stable functioning of the Parliament and the country until a full Cabinet of Ministers is appointed.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarians Dinesh Gunawardena, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Johnston Fernando, and President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry were sworn in as the Ministers of Education, Foreign Affairs, Highways, and Finance, respectively, before the President, last morning. Ali Sabry PC previously held the Justice portfolio while Gunawardena, Prof. Peiris, and Fernando held the same posts earlier.
Among them, Gunawardena will be the Leader of the House while Fernando will be the Chief Government Whip.
Announcing the appointments, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated that the four said Ministers have been appointed to maintain the legitimacy and stability of the Parliament and the other affairs of the country until a full Cabinet is appointed. “The appointment of these Ministers was due to the need to carry out the affairs pertaining to foreign affairs and finance and also the need to appoint a Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip in order to maintain the Parliament,” a statement issued by the PMD read.
The PMD further stated that the President has already requested all political parties represented in the Parliament to contribute to solutions to the current issues in the country and that a permanent Cabinet will be appointed in consultation with them in the future.
Following all ministers having decided to resign from their posts on Sunday (3), President Rajapaksa invited all political parties to come together to find solutions to the ongoing national crisis.
“The current crisis is a result of several economic factors and global developments. As one of the leading democratic countries in Asia, solutions should be found to this within a democratic framework. Considering this a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and future generations,” a statement from the PMD read.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), following its Central Committee meeting on Sunday, informed the President in a letter that the 14 Government Ministers of Parliament (MPs) representing the SLFP would sit as independent MPs in Parliament if the Government does not form an Interim Government with the participation of all parties represented in Parliament within the course of next week. When inquired about this, SLFP Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Luxman Piyadasa said that the President should take action to find a solution to the crisis situation that has arisen, through the formation of an Interim Government.
On the same day, the Cabinet had decided to allow the President to appoint a new Cabinet, amid mounting pressure on the President and the Government to resign. Accordingly, all ministers except for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from their respective ministerial posts.
It is further said that the issues discussed at a special meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) held recently also contributed to the crucial decision taken by the Government. During the said NSC discussion, the defence and security apparatus have pointed out that the Police and security forces would not be able to control the growing protests unless a speedy solution is found on the political front.
Courtesy:The Morning