28 March, 2024

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I Resigned: Ranil Asked Me To Read Butler’s ‘Art Of The Possible’ – Rajiva

Professor Rajiva Wijesingha says when he expressed his displeasure to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe concerning the decisions made in the Higher Education Ministry without consulting him and informed of his decision to resign from his portfolio, the PM in return had told him to read Butler’s ‘Art of the possible’.

RajivaThe State Minister for Higher Education says when the issue of the UGC Chairperson’s resignation occurred, he informed the President and the Cabinet Minister for Higher Education Kabir Hashim that he will resign by February 17 if a decision is not made to make him the Cabinet Minister for Higher Education as he could not continue his work independently under the present set up.

Thereafter when the PM contacted him over the phone and asked him not to resign, he had maintained that he should be made a cabinet minister and that he does not wish to continue his work under present circumstances. In response, the PM had said he would make a decision and get back to him and until then, to read Butler’s ‘Art of the Possible’. “I don’t need to read that; I need to start work. On Monday I cleared my desk. I have a simple rule, you have to do what you say you are doing, if not you have to explain why you are not doing it.” Wijesingha said.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Liberal party leader Prof. Wijesinghe who is a cousin of the PM, has also commented on the issues prevalent within the government regarding the manner in which the cabinet was appointed and the various portfolios assigned to each of the Ministers of the new government. He has blamed former President Chandrika Kumaratunga for the cabinet comprising majorly of UNP-ers.

Prof. Wijesinghe has noted that many Ministers including Rosy Senanayake was unhappy of being made a State Minister and has added that it was such issues that led to the resignation of Faizer Musthapha.

“Look what happened with Faizer. If you don’t want to make them Cabinet ministers its fine, but why put them under Cabinet ministers because the Constitution is clear that the President can appoint Cabinet ministers and assign them their jobs. The President can also appoint non-cabinet ministers. Cabinet ministers can allocate anything he/she wants to a non-cabinet minister but the non-cabinet minister is not under the Cabinet minister. They are supposed to have an independent existence but none has it. I can think of half a dozen in the present Cabinet, who should not be in it,” he has said in his interview.

He has also noted that contrary to the promise that was made to appoint a ‘scientific’ cabinet, the manner in which some of the governance sectors have been assigned to Ministers is completely illogical. Citing an example, the State Minister has said that although divisional and district secretariats should be ideally under the Public Administration Ministry, they have been assigned to be under the purview of the Fisheries Ministry.

“Ranil’s Cabinet portfolio is absolute crackers! Policy planning, youth, cultural and women’s affairs and investment promotion-but no-one knows where reconciliation fits in,” he has stated pointing out that it is unclear as to whether it is under the PM’s purview or is being dealt with through a Presidential task force.

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Latest comments

  • 17
    7

    Now it’s clear from his interview that he expect a cabinet minister post. That is why now he resign.
    The reason he put forward is misleading the general public

  • 14
    8

    The learnered professor is a good humn being but not a ministerial material. How can he say too many Ministers from the UNP. It is because of the UNP votes all these changes were possible and this should be simple to understand.

  • 17
    5

    I remember Rajeeva while in the MR govt. riding the high horse then used to lambaste Ranil Wickremasinghe in the most disparaging manner. The way Rajeeva demeaned Ranil in his paper articles the guy had no shame to appeal to Ranil himself for redress.

    • 3
      2

      His political performance is like squaure peg in a round hole.

      He may be a good lectuerer but not a good politician though he sounds fine.

    • 5
      1

      I too remember tat period that he used to Lie, Lie and Lie for Rajapakses saying he had not committed any human rights violations and war crimes.

      Ranil should immediately ask him to RESIGN as Deputy Minister and go back and get his job in the Ratnapura University.

      This Wijesinghe is a damn liability to Ranil among many others.

      Rajiva can chose an electorate and district and go campaigning for the next elections in June 2015. I hope he can get more than 999 Votes. LOL.

      Good Bye Wijesinghe. GROBR.

      Donald Gnanakone
      Tamils For Justice

    • 4
      2

      Professors and Professionals in Politics are mere opportunist with crowd control experience and shame being a relative term they have none.
      Opportunity makes a thief.

  • 14
    3

    Ego, power and idiocy are a great combination!

  • 11
    1

    This article confirms my comments to some articles published in CT that Deputy Ministers and Non-Cabinet Ministers are ornaments. If we are interested in good governance, do away with those category completely. Have about 40 to 45 Cabinet Ministers only with subjects rationally divided.

    With respect to combination of subjects I reiterate my suspicion that some consultant who is trying some fancy idea of his is making entire Sri Lanka his laboratory. In fact as I have commented before the only common thing between the subjects Higher Education and Highways is that both of them start with the letter H. I understand that officials of the former ministry of information technology, now part of foreign affairs having to stay in waiting rooms for hours to get there matters sorted out in the foreign office.

    Though some commentators have remarked implying greed on the part of Prof. Wijesinghe, I can understand the agony because I have seen for many years how Deputy Ministers just sitting and having to do nothing and they exist only in name. I have also heard, while I was in public service, even in the yester-year how even non-cabinet ministers undergoing the same agony.

    This is not a time for in-fighting but to deliver some goods to the public. So Premier Wickramasinghe, as he must be consulted by the President before making appointments, must engage some sensible people to put things right.

  • 2
    1

    IN SRI-LANKA THERE IS NO PLACE FOR PROFESSORS IN THE CABINET.YOU ONLY NEED GCE O/L.SEE HOW WONDERFULL MINISTERS SUCH AS MERVIN,MAHIDANADA,JOHONSTON,DUMINDA CARRIED OUT THEIR DUTIES.RAJEEWA MUST GO FOR CLASSES TO TAKE FROM PROFESSOR G.L. PIERIS LIFE TIME FOREIGN MINSTER HOW TO SURVIVE AS HE WORKED TAKING ORDERS FROM DUMINDA AND NAMAL BABY.

  • 3
    2

    It is sad the cleaver professor had fallen for Ranils scam.

    Just like how Ranil is now claiming that 6.4 million citizens voted for him. What a scamming plonked!
    He should be liked out ASAP to save our country..

  • 4
    1

    It is easy to understand; there is an ‘ego’ issue here. UGC Chairperson’s resignation is just a pretext.

  • 5
    2

    This professor is useless. When in government, for that matter in any institutions, one should leant to be a team player. These issues should be sorted privately rather than in public. It’s good for him to resign than bring more embaressment and ill feeling to himself and others.

  • 5
    2

    He thinks that he is the only “Mola Kaaraya”, get lost.

  • 3
    1

    For a country like Sri Lanka working with small budgets the last thing we need is a top heavy humongous bureaucracy. Funding wise we are one of the most governed countries per capita in the world. More ministries, more cabinet ministries, and more deputy minister’s means it becomes so difficult to work out who is doing what. Furthermore we all know from the Sri Lankan experience politicians are synonymous with corruption. With so many people given licence to bury their snouts in the gravy train the citizen obviously is the loser.

    We do not need so many ministries – period. We do not need any deputy minister – period. We do not need cabinet ministers – period.

  • 4
    1

    If you wanted to serve the people, no matter about the position or the place or where you are.State Minister, if a person really wanted to serve first and foremost, he should set an example by obeying his immediate upper hand, ie the Minister.If you disagree no matter, you have either to give him a hand, or leave his hand.Being a State Minister, you should be an example for the students to follow.I admire the way the Prime Minister handles his subordinates
    .

  • 3
    2

    Thank God, he is gone. What a joker this Rajiva is? The more he stays in oblivion the better it would be for SL. This is the same guy who lied to the UNHCR about good the Rajapakse regime was and there was nothing wrong with that administration.

  • 1
    2

    Rajeeva should listen to the university teachers and devise methods to solve problems which have arisen due to existing rules and regulations not being followed by some VCs who wish to favour some candidates for posts.
    He should attend senate meetings of universities commencing with the Colombo University.
    He should select a suitable person for appointment as chairman of the UGC and call a conference of VCs and learn problems direct from the academics and devise strategies for smooth running of universities.
    Demanding a cabinet post is not urgent, as he can do a lot of work to clear up the mess as a state minister – he was boasting earlier about work he did as an MP under MR.

  • 2
    1

    The truth is there are no sensible people here. All spent forces. Appointees’ only suitability is connection or subservience.

  • 1
    2

    All except one neutral comment blasts Rajiva Wijesinha.
    But that is not going to get you any sympathy.

    This is a challenge Rajiva Wijesinha.
    Dare you to come to the West.
    You will be arrested for Crimes Against Humanity and very possibly for Complicity to Genocide.

    Having watched you for sometime now it will not be a surprise if you have struck a deal with a diaspora Tamil group as a witness like many army officers have done so far.

  • 5
    1

    first is Professor Rajiva Wijesingha does not understand onions of Politics , he does not understand the importance of holding the government together until the GE , in hu8ndrend days you can not to a ball of a thing just because you become a cabinet minister , and if Chandirka was behind this Salute her ,she is a seasoned Politician unlike Rosy the Posy , and who care about faizer mustafa , he is a no one crook, not a single Muslim wants him around , let go to hell.
    If all of you are so greedy now in a government for just 100 days, can imagine how you guys will behave if elected to parliament for GE .Is GROBR.

    If M3 can not hold his present Government after the coming GE & if MR re appears, SRI LANKANS remember we all get what we deserve.. you will pay through your nose for this greediness and unethical sabotage, look at the cancer hospital , people are willing to go to that extent make money out of dying people ,of case it is nothing new in our society , they import drugs , they import ethanol ,human life never ever mattered in Sri Lanka , since 1915 , to current times , it was always even kill in the name of nationalism and rob, even Tsunami disaster victims were not sparred , dead peoples finger were cut off to remove gold rings , in Althugama poor peoples houses , vehicles and shops were brunt to ashes , but were robbed first.

    So one must understand anyone (not pertaining to any particular (religion or race) who does anything to jeopardize the effort of My3 is unhappy of good governance , they want a government where they can use excuses to use arson, murder , import drugs and ethanol , prostitution network , they have no wish to see the Country to reconcile and grow.

    Next general Election will clearly show what the majority of the Peoples of this country’s mindset are like . again a simple and humble request ,in English the term majority does not necessarily mean the majority race or religion unless that term is attached with it, here the term is meant to all peoples together , it is a myth that My3 won only by minority votes those who think so are highly recommended to consult a shrink.

  • 1
    2

    I think Ranil Wickrasinghe approving the way Mahinda Rajapske ran the govt with mega cabinets.

    As some one else said, Sri lanka doe snot need deputy ministers and state ministers.

    Even the 225 parliamentarians are too many when provincial councils are also there.

    It is a top heavy system and is a wastage of the country’s resources.

  • 2
    0

    I can bet that this Pundit cannot cross a Stream on a “foot bridge”! The way he expects, there has to be larger cabinet than Rajapakses.

  • 1
    1

    Ado Ben we know everything you do and everything you write on CT ,FB and everywhere, careful ok?

  • 0
    1

    The right place for this guy is the prison at the Hague for his support of raping Tamils by Sri Lanka Sinhala forces….this animal described these rapes as …army men told greek stories to shivering Tamil girls…in the mid night…

  • 0
    0

    Prof. Wijesinhe should not say anything against any one if he submitted resignation because he was not forced to do so. People demand minimum a degree for parliament disqualifying others what an irony!

  • 0
    0

    He should have been kicked out before he resigned!

  • 0
    0

    When so many people converge on the ineptitude of this pathetic egghead, they cannot all be wrong. G. H. Peiris and R. Wijesinhe (note the Anglicized spelling) have bloated egos and little wisdom (panna) in the Buddhist sense.

    I was extremely disappointed to learn that RW wanted to retain Kshanika Hirimburegama as UGC chairman
    –a woman whose performance was below par. I know this for a cinch because she did not even
    bother to respond to my request for a meeting early 2013 to discuss the unsatisfactory in handling a large donation in scholarship funds i gave to a local university.

    When RW became state higher education minister last month,I sent him an email complaining about her behavior with a copy to Colombo Telegraph. But neither the ex-minister nor the muckraking rag responded. through first-hand experience, I have concluded that CT’s concern for cleaning up the Augean stables is a sham.

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