SHOWDOWN AMONG THREE MINISTERS

Dr. Senaratne accused Mr. Samaraweera of pandering to the interests of the Finance Ministry Paskaralingam was meddling with the affairs of his Ministry in regards to a housing project

Dr. Amunugama is reported to have submitted a Cabinet memorandum seeking to grant a pay hike for the employees attached to the railway sector rectifying the existing anomalies.

However, according to Cabinet sources, Minister Samaraweera expressed his objection to this move on the basis that it would trigger salary disparities with the employee categories of the other sectors of the public service.

This led to a heated exchange of words among the Ministers. Dr. Senaratne, who is also the Cabinet co-spokesman, joined the cross talks in support of Dr. Amunugama.

Dr. Senaratne accused Mr. Samaraweera of pandering to the interests of the Finance Ministry officials without having his own analysis on the issues at hand.

In a separate case at the same Cabinet meeting, National Integration, Reconciliation and Official Languages Minister Mano Ganeshan was critical of R. Paskaralingam who is the Advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Mr. Ganeshan brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and President Maithripala Sirisena that Mr. Paskaralingam was meddling with the affairs of his Ministry in regard to a housing project to be launched in the North with the financial assistance from India. He said the Secretary to his Ministry had not been consulted in compiling reports on the project by Mr. Paskaralingam.

He asked the President and the Prime Minister to look into it. The President remained silent. The Prime Minister reportedly agreed to look into the matter.