Industries Minister Wimal Weerwansa and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday as per the powers vested in him by the Constitution.
The two Ministers were sacked from their portfolios following some critical remarks they made on the Government at an event on Wednesday to launch a new national statement with the participation of eleven constituent parties of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led Government.
Cabinet reshuffle
Following the President’s decision to sack Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila from their ministerial portfolios, several ministries were reshuffled. Gamini Lokuge was sworn in as the new Minister of Energy and Pavithra Wanniarachchi was sworn in as the new Minister of Power before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday’s evening.
They previously held the portfolios of Power and Transport respectively, while Wanniarachchi also held the Health portfolio at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Veteran politician and SLPP Parliamentarian S.B. Dissanayake took oaths as the Industries Minister before the President, adding a new face in the present Cabinet replacing former Minister Weerawansa’s portfolio. C.B. Ratnayake was sworn in as the Cabinet Minister of Wildlife Protection and Forest Conservation.
Government lawmakers said the conference organised by eleven constituent parties of the Government was a futile attempt aimed at attacking President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the program implemented by the Government to ensure sustainable development in the country.
“Alliance against Government”
At a press conference at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Headquarters, Battaramulla on Friday, Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said that a group from the Government itself is striving to form a wider political alliance against the Government by making use of the economic situation in the country.
He said, “Parliamentarians Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila said the eleven minor parties teamed up to formulate a set of proposals with the sole purpose of putting the Government on the right track. However, these parties resorted to attacking the Government and its program of work instead of making a set of proposals to the Government at the conference which was held on Wednesday at Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.”
Minister Amunugama said, “They made a valuable contribution to bring former President Mahinda Rajapaksa into power again and we do not want to underestimate the contribution they made in that respect.”
He said that the Government with a two-thirds majority was formed by bringing all forces under the SLPP’s fold.
However, the Transport Minister said that they cannot be allowed to attack the President, the Finance Minister and the Government’s program of work while still holding key Ministerial portfolios in the same Government. He said, “Their removal is a policy decision taken by the President. Every Member of the Cabinet is collectively responsible for any action taken by the Government.”
Mulu Ratama Hari Magata
Eleven constituent parties of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led Government launched a new national policy at an event at Sri Jayewardenepura on Wednesday, March 2 attended by a large number of Government MPs, including a number of Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers. The coalition parties of the Government urged for early resolution of five crises to usher real economic development for people.
The five crises listed included depleting foreign reserves, foreign debt servicing, loss of Government revenue, economic mismanagement and worsening economic crisis, collapse of agriculture and local industries.
The manifesto, titled Mulu Ratama Hari Magata (the entire country towards the right path), was launched by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), National Freedom Front (NFF), Democratic Left Front (DLF), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Communist Party of Sri Lanka, National Congress, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Sri Lanka People’s Party, Vijaya Dharani National Council (NC), People’s United Front and the Yuthukama National Organisation.
The event was attended by SLFP Chairman and incumbent SLPP Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena, NFF Leader and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa, DLF Leader and Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, LSSP Leader and SLPP National List MP Prof. Tissa Vitharana, NC Leader A.L.M. Athaullah, PHU Leader and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, Sri Lanka People’s Party Leader and SLPP MP Asanka Navaratna and SLPP Parliamentarians Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera and Gevindu Kumaratunga.
Except for Ven. Rathana Thera, who represented Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya in Parliament, all others were constituent parties of the SLPP. State Minister Vidura Wickremanayake, who had been quite critical of failures and shortcomings on the part of the Government along with SLPP lawmaker Premanath C. Dolawatte had also attended the event.
Action criticised
However, SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam criticised MPs Dolawatte and Wickramanayaka for attending an event organised by the 11 constituent parties of the Government on Wednesday, while indicating that no decision on disciplinary action against them has been made. Kariyawasam has said that the decision for action in this regard should be made by the Party’s Central Committee.
“Be more flexible”
At the launch of the national statement, former President Sirisena urged the Government to be more flexible to discuss the issues that are burdening the people. He also asked the Opposition to come to the table for a common goal instead of thinking about securing power.
He called on all political parties representing Parliament to unite to build a mechanism which is a flexible and fair program to put the economy back on track. He said, “Today, all 11 constituent parties of the Government are in this forum because we never got a platform to express our views and get involved in the administration over the past two years. The SLPP was formulated with the support of many parties during the last election, but since then it was not called for a meeting at least once.”
Making a fiery speech at the unveiling of the National Policy of eleven constituent parties of the Government, NFF Leader Wimal Weerwansa said the Finance Minister is not seeking sound economic advice, including the Central Bank Governor.
He said the Central Bank Governor said he had sent nine letters within the past six months outlining economic measures that should be taken to avoid a crisis. However, the Finance Minister had not even acknowledged them or had time for a meeting with the Central Bank Governor to discuss them. PHU Leader Minister Gammanpila told the media on Wednesday that the Government couldn’t digest the truth and because of that, they made decisions which proved that everything I said was true.
He said, “My conscience is clear and I have no feelings of remorse for what I said. I spoke the truth and the Government could not digest that. It is because of that they opted to terminate those who speak the truth.”
Wimal Weerawansa told reporters in Colombo on Friday, in his first-ever briefing after he and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios on Thursday, that he will not accept any ministerial position under the Government of the incumbent President.
He said during the tenure of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of the country, all politicians were able to voice their approval or objections. The then President, Mahinda Rajapaksa had the leadership qualities to listen to all views and take decisions.
At the media briefing convened by the Government-allied political parties, Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that he would refrain from performing his duties as a Cabinet Minister until justice is served for Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila who were sacked from their portfolios. When asked if he is stepping down from his ministerial portfolio, Nanayakkara said he is withdrawing from performing his duties.
Refutes claims
Wildlife Minister C. B. Ratnayake has refuted claims that he was preparing to resign from his Ministerial post following the sacking of two Ministers. Issuing a statement on Friday, he said, “There were rumours being circulated on social media that I was packing up and preparing to leave my Ministry. That is a blatant lie. Moreover, I am the happiest person over the appointment of S. B. Dissanayake as a Minister. He is also from the Nuwara Eliya district, like me and now since there are two of us from this district, we can do a lot for the district.”
Ratnayake said certain parties are trying to create friction within the Government by spreading such rumours. However, he assured that he would dedicate himself to uphold the mandate given by the people and will fight to overcome the challenges facing the country.
Common program
Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has urged Sri Lankans to follow the example set by Ukraine and to get together to formulate a common minimum program to respond to the crisis in the country.
In a media release, Jayasuriya stated that the fuel and electricity crises had disrupted the everyday lives of the people. The economic activities are grinding to a standstill. He said, “There appears to be a lack of consensus within the Government on possible solutions, thereby further delaying the resolution of many issues. Instead, various parties to the Government are presenting their own opinions on the matter adding to the chaos and confusion.
The only obvious solution to face a catastrophe of this scale is to at least temporarily form a united national front. However, it can only be built if the Government extends the hand of friendship to all parties.”
Jayasuriya said that the National Movement for Social Justice had come up with a proposal, prepared with the assistance of local and foreign academics and scholars.
Long-term national plan
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the rulers do not have a clear knowledge on the depth of the crises faced by the country at present. He said the Government should implement a long-term national plan to resolve the existing economic crisis.
At a media briefing on Thursday, he said that Covid-19 pandemic is not the prime reason for this pathetic situation and the Government should inform the public regarding the critical nature of the pressing issues confronting the country and its people.
However, he said that the Government itself has no clear knowledge about it. As a result of the lackadaisical approach of the Government, the public is left to suffer. Dissanayake said the gross negligence and baseless arguments of the leaders is the main reason for the current poor state.
He said that the Government is wasting dollars while the country is facing a huge forex crisis. The Government takes loans from various countries to import essential goods. This is not a long-term solution and if this trend continues, the country will be forced to take loans every three months from other countries.
“Attempt to distract people”
The United National Party criticised the Government’s attempts to distract the public from the ongoing crisis in the country. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene accused the Government of failing to address the growing issues faced by the public.
Speaking at a meeting attended by UNP activists, Wijewardena commented on the recent sacking of two Cabinet Ministers. He said, “The Government is treating the public like fools and they think that sacking two Ministers will make us think they are solving the problems in the country. This is just an attempt to distract us. A Cabinet reshuffle is not the answer to the Dollar crisis. If at all the President should remove the Central Bank Governor who has continued to pursue policies that have prevented Dollars from entering the country.”
Failure of previous Govt
State Minister Kanaka Herath said the Government is bracing for the consequences of the failure of the previous Government to implement a proper program to strengthen the national economy. The State Minister said that during the previous government, not a step was taken to develop agriculture or local production nor build even one power plant.
At a ceremony at the Rambukkana Divisional Secretariat to present ‘Ranbima’ land deeds for 144 beneficiary families, the State Minister said that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire global economy. As a result of this, there is a gradual increase in the prices of essential goods and fuel. He said that the Government is moving forward amidst numerous challenges in these circumstances. “However, the Government has taken all possible measures to implement livelihood development projects at the rural level and strengthen the national economy.”
Not guilty
SLPP Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando was reinstated as the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul and Palmyra Cultivation Promotion on Friday. State Minister Fernando had earlier temporarily stepped down from his ministerial portfolio following the involvement of his son in an assault incident.
The MP’s 23-year-old son was arrested over the assault of a group of students attached to the Medical Faculty of the University of Kelaniya in Ragama last month. Following the incident, MP Fernando said that he will step down from his post until the conclusion of the investigation into the matter. The final report of the Ragama Medical faculty clash was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday and had disclosed that MP Arundika Fernando was not guilty.
A committee chaired by Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was appointed by the President to investigate and submit a report on the clash that took place at the hostel premises of the Medical Faculty in Ragama on February 1. The Committee has investigated the incident and prepared a report containing facts and recommendations.