The party leaders who met at the Parliamentary complex yesterday (07) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena have agreed to form a ‘National Council’ with the participation of all the political party leaders in the Parliament in order to alleviate the economic and social crisis that has arisen in the country.
Accordingly, the Speaker presides over the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, the Leader of the House, and the Chief Government Whip will become its ex officio members.
The National Assembly will be comprised of 37 members including ex-officio members and the leaders of all the political parties in the Parliament.
The party leaders have agreed to submit the related proposal to the parliament immediately.
Meanwhile, sources at the Presidential Secretariat said that although the State Ministers are scheduled to be appointed today (08), their scopes will not be gazetted.
Only one secretary is to be appointed to state ministries.
Ranil disregards Basil’s request
Earlier, the former State Ministers of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) proposed that the scopes of the ministries should be gazetted and the State Ministers should be allocated a separate budget head.
However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has rejected the proposal.
Meanwhile, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa had sent a list of names to the President requesting to appoint 36 MPs as State Ministers. However, the number of State Ministers has been reduced to 32 by the President.
Mahinda – Ranil discussion
Meanwhile, a special discussion was held yesterday (07) morning between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLPP leader former President Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the appointment of state ministers.
It was reported that former state ministers Sanath Nishantha Perera and Lohan Ratwatte were also present on this occasion.
Related news:
