NO CABINET MEETING THIS WEEK

He has fought several battles against the use of alcohol and tobacco since the time he was Health Minister

Co-cabinet spokesman and Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka cited the arrival of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka from January 22 to 24 as the reason for not holding the Cabinet meeting. However, another minister said Cabinet meetings never interrupted when the President is in the country.

“Cabinet meetings are never known to be put off from the time of President J.R. Jayewardene to the current President notwithstanding visits from foreign dignitaries. I think the decision to put off this week’s Cabinet meeting is a reflection of the President’s displeasure over the developments within the government in general and in the Cabinet in particular,” a senior SLFP minister said. “The President was visibly upset and angry when he spoke to the ministers last Tuesday. The decision of the Finance Ministry to lift the ban on women to work at distilleries, purchase alcohol and the extension of time to keep taverns open had also upset the President.”

The minister said the Finance Ministry circular revoking the ban on the use of alcohol is an affront to the accepted policy of the government and that of the President.

“He has fought several battles against the use of alcohol and tobacco since the time he was Health Minister and has won several global awards for his anti-alcohol and tobacco stance. That is why he instructed the Finance Ministry to withdraw the circular. He is unhappy that he was not consulted before the release of the ministry circular,” the minister said.