UNP’s proposal only a ploy to increase Cabinet: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday the proposed resolution by the United National Party (UNP) to form a national government was only a shameful ploy to increase the cabinet of ministers.

JVP propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath told a news conference that the government was planning to form a national government with the support of an MP who contested the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) ticket.

“Lakshman Kiriella has said they would submit a resolution in parliament to form a national government. They are planning to do so with the SLMC MP who is already in the government,” he said.

The MP said the government was planning to capitalize on the national government concept in the constitution to increase the cabinet of ministers as a solution to the crisis in the UNP over ministerial portfolios.

“The UNP government which was formed after the October 26 political conspiracy is caught up in a crisis. Some ministers are crying over the portfolios they received while others are fighting for ministerial portfolios, deputy and state portfolios. This fight has left some key ministries without cabinet ministers. The fight for ministries is not to develop the country but to satisfy their greed for power,” he said.

The MP said an amendment introduced to the constitution to restrict the number of the cabinet ministers after countrywide protests about the unlimited number of ministers.

“A clause to restrict number of ministers to 30 and deputy and state ministers to 40 was included in the 19th amendment to the constitution. But the government ultimately introduced an amendment to increase the cabinet through a national government. We objected to this amendment. But it was passed in parliament. Cabinet of ministers should be increased by passing a resolution in parliament,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)