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| Wednesday, 5 November 2003 |
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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday removed the portfolios of Defence, Interior and Mass Communication from Ministers Tilak Marapana, John Amaratunga and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar. A statement from the Presidential Secretariat said the President took this decision as per the powers vested in her under the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka. These Ministers will continue to hold the several other posts they hold at present, the Secretariat said.
Minister Marapana also holds Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation portfolios while Minister Amaratunga holds the Christian Affairs portfolio. "In the letters of removal, the reasons for taking this action in the national interest, have been stated," it said. The news release said "this step has been taken after careful consideration, in order to prevent further deterioration of the security situation in the country". The reasons for this action will be made known to the public in due course, the statement added. It said: "By virtue of the powers vested in the President under the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has removed the under-mentioned Cabinet Ministers from office. They are: Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Minister of Mass Communication." The Secretariat also announced that Tilak Ranaviraja has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Communication and Cyril Herath as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. M.N. Junaid will continue as Secretary to the Ministry of Interior. Kumar Abeysinghe was the former secretary to the Ministry of Mass Communication and Austin Fernando was the former secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
The move comes one week before the presentation of the 2004 budget and days after the LTTE handed over the proposals for an interim administration for the North-East, through the Norwegian facilitators. Meanwhile, an AFP report said the President ordered troops to guard key installations including the state television station after sacking the three ministers. More than 100 troops were posted outside the government printing press with more soldiers at the state radio and television stations, officials said. The President yesterday prorogued Parliament until November 19. The President in a letter to Speaker Joseph Michael Perera said the assembly will be prorogued until November 19. |
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