SPEAKER TO RULE ON NATIONAL GOVT. TODAY

The Speaker said he had not been notified about the status quo yet The leaders of both UNP and SLFP should inform the Speaker in writing if they were continuing with the national government

He said this when the Opposition asked him about the composition of the Cabinet. “I and the Leader of the House will look into the matter and inform the House,” he said.

Chief Opposition whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake who raised this matter initially said the number of ministers was increased from 30 to 40 while deputy ministers and state ministers had been increased from 40 to 45 with the approval of the House in 2015. However, he said the national government was formed for a period of two years and that period had lapsed.

“We ask questions from the ministers but we do not know whether they are ministers under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. In such a scenario how can we accept them as ministers,” Mr. Dissanayake said.

Joint opposition MP Dallas Alahapperuma said the leaders of both UNP and SLFP should inform the Speaker in writing if they were continuing with the national government and asked whether Speaker had been notified by the two parties.

The Speaker said he had not been notified about the status quo yet.

JO parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardene said the Cabinet would be restricted to 30 if the two parties in the national government had not informed the Speaker that the unity government continued to function.

Opposition members said Parliament approval was essential to increase the composition of the Cabinet and the state and deputy ministers under the 19th Amendment.

House Leader Lakshman Kiriella had said earlier that the parties to the national government had not quit. However, the Opposition said such an assurance from the Leader of the House was not sufficient for the Current Cabinet to function.