The much-awaited cabinet reshuffle has run into several snags including the resignation of several ministers, the indecision of the UNP‘s main partner in the ‘Unity Government’ (the SLFP) and the limiting clause regarding cabinet size enshrined in the 19th Amendment.
The 19th Amendment allows cabinet to exceed 30 members only in the event there is a national government. Although the amendment does not define what a ‘national government’ is, it has been assumed that such a government would include the entirety of the two parties with the most number of MPs in Parliament, in this instance the UNP and the SLFP.
However, with several SLFP Ministers resigning their posts and the SLFP yet to decide whether or not to remain in the Government, the ‘national government arrangement’ lapses, according to political analysts.
The General Secretary of the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance, Mahinda Amaraweera has stated that even those SLFP ministers and deputy ministers who supported the vote of no-confidence on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would ‘remain in the Government to strengthen and support party leader and president Maithripala Sirisena’.
The SLFP’s Parliamentary Group earlier decided unanimously to quit the Government but was asked by Sirisena to discuss the matter further. With the President currently in the UK attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the party has not yet officially announced its position.
Furthermore, with 16 SLFP MPs announcing a decision to sit as a separate group in the Opposition, the SLFP is no longer the second largest parliamentary group.
Constitutional experts, when contacted by Colombo Telegraph said that the weak wording with respect to ‘National Government’ in the 19th Amendment could now prompt litigation unless cabinet is kept to 30 or below.
Jim softy / April 17, 2018
there are muslims and Tamils who always come to the govt because they get minister posts. So, always, the govt is a national govt whether it is what ever the amendment. What the SLFP says, eventhough we divorced each other, we stay together because you need stability in the marraige, we need salaries, perks and benefits and new car permits, if there will be. ITis the same usual CHESS game to exploit, manipilate and plunder the country. Nothing new. Tje most clownish place in Sri lanka, the PArliament.
/
Native Vedda / April 18, 2018
Jim softy dimwit
–
“there are muslims and Tamils who always come to the govt because they get minister posts.”
–
Could you name them and ministries they ran.
/
Percy / April 18, 2018
Stupid Tamil Vedda
Will tell anyone but Not for you, you c sucker !
/
Mallaiyuran / April 18, 2018
Tamils and Muslims are not the only ones party hoped in last Chitanta government. About 75 MPs from JVP and UNP hopped to SLFP; practically they all were Sinhala Buddhists, only hoping to get Minister Posts. SWRD set the example of something like “copycatting in the test is a Short Cut way” to becoming prime minister. From that day party hopping was a chronic disease in Lankawe, hoping everybody becoming Minister, Prime Minister and President. JR stopped party hoping, preventing his enemies eying his seat. But it was restored. Ranil’s pus and discharge oozing brain invented the new locking mechanism though 19A. One need to think what serious constitutionally destructive thing that two parties standing in election opposing each other on opposing philosophies and uniting together only to get Minister Posts & then getting free bungalows and Defender SUVs .
Long live 1931 Universal Franchise.
Long Live Don Stephen’s wild dream of family empire making, on the expense of Tamils. It was only 1 ½ decades ago Sir Pon Arunachalam merged his party with UNP. Don Stephen split it right after he took the PM position.
/
Jim softy / April 17, 2018
I heard about 500 lakhs were spent to go through the NCM. So money spent for develoment. Most moey went to buy MPs, I suppose.
/
Real Revolutionist / April 17, 2018
Cabinet reshuffle?
Why?
/
argon / April 18, 2018
Ask not why. Ask how.
/
Chandra / April 17, 2018
‘weak wording’ of the 19thA? Naturally with a weak mind like Jayampathy’s!!
A mediocrity elevated to a constitutional drafter by Ranil W because he hoots to the UNP’s bidding! The man is a joke. Or joker.
I heard him boasting about RTI law in that rogues den in Diyannawa. Reliable sources say that he avoided drafting meetings as he was was clueless and did not know how to deal with the subject matter!
Lucky – otherwise he would have messed that up as well!
/
Sarrij / April 18, 2018
C.
Spot on.
There is always a sinister political motive behind every attempt at framing a constitution.
The local experts are a bunch of incompetent rogues with ulterior motives.
It’s time “foreign experts” are invited to fill in the vacuum or “copy” the SINGAPORE model in toto.
/
Good Sense / April 18, 2018
Dear Sarijj,
We had real fun with a Singaporean resulting in the bond scam. Yes I share with you that rogues with ulterior motives would result in a shoddy output. No amount of “foreign experts” can bring about a change in the quality of the people entrusted to run a government.
/
Govishankar Ebolanathan / April 17, 2018
Aiyo Sirisena!
( ͡° ل͟ ͡° )╭∩╮
/
Edwin Rodrig / April 17, 2018
Suggestion: Throw away the old pack, lock stock and barrel, and get a new pack. We need a new Joker too. But that can wait until the present Joker returns from the Suddavasa Brahma Loka.
If the number of Ministers is a problem, there is a solution for that too. Split the UNP in to two halves and form a new national government. Abracadabra – peanut butter sandwich – we have a cabinet where the number can even be infinity. But of course, not everyone can have peanut butter sandwich even in the Brahma Loka.
Ok, Any other problems?
/
Burt / April 17, 2018
The best thing for the country would be to make a clean break from the thieves of the last government and allow UNP to form govt. and continue for the next two years.
UNP and SLFP’s vision for the country are worlds apart when it comes to the economy as UNP believes in open economy which is better suited in the current environment and SLFP’s vision is a closed economy which is better suited for looting the country.
As far as law and order is concerned you cannot go after thieves and murders when they are a part of your team.
/
Sarrij / April 18, 2018
B.
Right? the UNP are an honest bunch!
Who is responsible fro the BOND SCAM?
/
Burt / April 18, 2018
Where is the DAMN SCAM? Why is NO ONE, not even Aloysious charged as yet?
/
Good Sense / April 18, 2018
Dear Burt,
Good Question. Why is no one charged for at least obstruction to justice etc. in the murder of Wasim Thajudeen. The original JMO and the the Police officers can be dealt with. Why Not? In the same light I cannot say where is the DAMN OBSTRUCTION TO JUSTICE ETC.
/
K.Pillai / April 17, 2018
“Cabinet Reshuffle Cannot Be Finalised Until Status Of National Government Is Cleared”
It is obvious – bloody obvious.
It will be prudent to ‘finalise the status of National Government’. Consensus is needed but NOT one- upmanship’.
/
Buddhist / April 18, 2018
SLFP Maithree group is remotely operated by Mahinda who is trying hard to topple the govt in order to stop the establishment of new courts. Other SLFPers who are supporting him are the rogues who do not want the courts to be established. It’s time Maithree who is FIRST THE PRESIDENT THEN ONLY THE LEADER OF SLFP should kick all pinata seat guys and other Mahinda supporters out of SLFP and form a National Govt.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 18, 2018
Ranil the silkworm cocooned itself. Now, even if the silkworm wishes, it cannot come out. I believe it was in last summer, when everything failed, then he hurriedly put together the Local Government PR-FPTP system though the parliament claiming that the parties coming with majority should be abolished. These were secrecy when he cooked up the 19A in his head. There is no plan to force the parties to deliver whatever they promise in the election campaigns. But by locking opponents together, he planned to create a Sinhala Buddhist Samraj that would resist and stand off against UNHRC like international Organization. So, he got very good corporation from SLFP and UNP to hoodwink UNHRC, UN, EU, India, America…..But utterly failed get corporation to tackle the real enemy the Joint Comedy club. The MPs, who they believe going to do well in the future, give their support to that party. For example, after the election, Hakeem group started complain that they cannot stay with UNP as it doesn’t do any good for them. They thought Yahapalanaya will collapse with NCM. But once they saw the prospects the other way, they reversed the cause. This mentality has split SLFP third time. This is the SLFP Old King created splitting UNP, in the last parliament. It is going the way it came into. They want to go to Joint Comedy club because they hope to get stronger ministries in the new government. There is rogue named Dayasiri, I don’t have fingers in my hand to count how many times he had changed his loyalty. GLP, Rambukwella like ones are too notorious in not having loyalty to any party.
The minister post is only Gold pot Sinhala Buddhists present to their masters. Receiving a Midas hand by the surgery called election is the only object of Lankaweyans. Now, even at local level, there are 4000 allowed to sign up for this surgery.
/
Jim softy / April 18, 2018
IF you read past news, It had been reported every January there would be a Czabinet Reshuffle. but, Ranil never had that kind of reorganization. that includes his own work.
/
Sarrij / April 18, 2018
Patholaya can not or have the ability to solve the present dilemma of choosing a responsible cabinet without some help from the Supreme Court.
Why is the court silent?
Surely, there must be a caring legal mind to trigger some intervention pro bono?
/
Ad / April 18, 2018
Selfish and Greedy, how can they share the power to form ‘National’ Govt.?
/
Percy / April 18, 2018
Someone asked for my comments and I said that my comments are not only irrelevant, but unnecessary. Yahapalana has already pressed the self destruct button and what we see is splendid. I am rubbing my hands and watching gleefully till the govt grinds slowly to a halt. These buggers are a bunch of plunderers who don’t know whether they are coming or going. Jayawewa !!
/
Don / April 18, 2018
Now PM and President’s coalition” Headache 16″ is moved permanently towards Pohottuwa as JO-kers lost the conspiracy filled coup-NCM.
/
Surath / April 19, 2018
If Ranil steps down and hands it over to sajith the problems would be solved,Ranil is dead wood
his brain has nothing inside for 30 years,he has a currupt group round him,moron Tilaka mrapana currupt to the core,Sagala Rathn ayake the other idiot who met with Ranil in a siangapore hotel to exonarate Mahendra Rajapaksa and his filthy family,Ravi the most ci=urrupt,Mallick the interlectuals,the ,who is ought to resign these filthy prevented young Dynamic UNP ers coming up
they killed it,Ranil is deadly leader has pol brain emty
he is worst UNP leadre in the histry of Sri lankan politics, the Young interlectuals,the entire expatriate
group hate him,he should have step down years ago,absolute waste of time ,pol gona
/