Johnston tells Dayasiri to solve portfolio problem within SLFP

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the allocation of cabinet ministerial posts among the SLFP members was a matter solely in the hands of the SLFP and other allied parties of the SLPP government had nothing to do with it.

The Minister said so responding to a question raised by a journalist, during a ceremony at Laggala, on a statement made by State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekera that Basil Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera created state ministries such as for clay, cinnamon, pepper and batik, which he received were ridiculed by the people, Minister Fernando said State Minister Jayasekera, as the General Secretary of the SLFP, should have known better. “When the SLPP government was formed the number of Cabinet ministerial posts had been distributed among the allied parties. Likewise, the SLFP got two Cabinet posts and they nominated Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera for them. It is up to the SLFP state ministers do solve the matter, within their party, whether they want to make a change and appoint Jayasekera or some other in place of the current Cabinet ministers they have. They have mixed up the facts and the issue and now make statements. Minister Jayasekera says that he is ready to work with the President and the Prime Minister and asks for a better position. It is a matter that they should solve within the SLFP of which Dayasiri, as the General Secretary, could effect that change. We also deny the accusation that the state ministers have been reduced to the level of mere rubber stamps. We know how the previous government treated the state ministers, but under this government the allocations and tasks assigned to them have been gazetted as a means to give them power. If anyone thinks that baseless allegations could help them attract public support they are mistaken and that will be proven when they go to the poll next time,” Minister Fernando said, adding that Jayasekera should first decide whether he would hold the Batik Ministry portfolio or exchange it with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva’s Labour and then solve that matter within the SLFP.