ALLEGATIONS ON MINISTRY SUBJECTS IRRELEVANT

Ministry Subjects decided by President and PM

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were the ones who decided on the subjects that would come under each Ministry after the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Co-cabinet Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake said yesterday.

“The allegations on demands by Ministers are I too, was accused of asking for the Film Corporation under the Land and Parliamentary Reforms Ministry but I have proved that those who came up with that accusation were wrong irrelevant,” he said.

Minister Karunathilaka came up with this answer in response to a question raised by journalists on the rationale behind vesting National Lotteries Board under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a media briefing yesterday morning.

“We do not know whether Minister Ravi Karunanayake asked that this institution be placed under his Ministry or not. However, the subjects that come under each Ministry were decided on by the President and the Prime Minister. Our position is that the decision of the Prime Minister and the President is final,” the Minister said.

“Do you say that people should accept the allocation of subjects to the Ministries whether it is done scientifically or otherwise, when they are decided by the President and Prime Minister?” A journalist questioned

“It is you who are trying to get into such a conclusion,” the Minister answered.

“I too, was accused of demanding for the Film Corporation under the Land and Parliamentary Reforms Ministry, but I proved that those who came up with that accusation

Do you say that people should accept the allocation of subjects to the Ministries whether it is done scientifically or otherwise, when they are decided by the President and Prime Minister?

were wrong,” the Minister added.

Earlier, the Minister said some people were silent, when a number of State institutions were put under the purview of two or three Ministries and former President during the last regime.

“Those who were silent during the last regime have started criticising the allocation of Ministry subjects today,” he added.

UNP MP Thushara Indunil, also participated in the media briefing referring to the recent remarks made by Ministry of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera, who criticised the decision to place Lotteries Board under Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“Minister Jayasekera should take up the matter with the President without making statements to the media,” MP Indunil said.