{"id":153803,"date":"2015-11-26T03:20:25","date_gmt":"2015-11-25T21:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=153803"},"modified":"2015-12-06T16:41:47","modified_gmt":"2015-12-06T11:11:47","slug":"sirisena-abuses-power-again-appoints-loser-slfp-mps-to-special-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sirisena-abuses-power-again-appoints-loser-slfp-mps-to-special-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Sirisena Abuses Power Again, Appoints Loser SLFP MPs To “Special Projects”"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Maithripala Sirisena<\/span><\/a> yesterday appointed defeated MP’s Shantha Bandara, Jagath Pushpakumara and\u00a0Eric Weerawardhana as Directors of ” Special Projects” with no description of the need for such appointments.<\/p>\n

\"Maithripala\"<\/a>The appointments were made in contravention of principles of Good Governance and in clear abuse of existing Executive Powers of the President.<\/p>\n

The appointments also come in the backdrop of the 19th amendment<\/span><\/a> which was showcased as a pruning of the powers and publicity over the tabling of a cabinet paper to abolish the Executive Presidency<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bandara was an unashamed supporter of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> together with Pushpakumara. Bandara is also alleged with scandals of corruption and thuggery during his previous stint as a parliamentarian.<\/p>\n

The Presidents office in its media communique failed to describe the role which the three would play and under which allocations funds for their sustenance would be obtained.<\/p>\n

Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was consistently accused of appointing corrupt persons and henchmen to roles as advisers and heads of institutions.<\/p>\n

Eric Weerawardhana was appointed to the Central Province, Shantha Bandara to the North-Western Province and former minister Jagath Pushpakumara to the Uva Province as directors for special presidential projects.<\/p>\n

“who is paying for them and what right have they to be appointed to such posts? how much have they been allocated? what was the need for such appointment and what exactly is their job role?” asked Siritunga Rajakaruna<\/span><\/a> an activist from Kebitigollewa.<\/p>\n

The Colombo Telegraph did not attempt to contact the Presidential Secretariat as previous efforts to contact the body on many occasions proved futile<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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