17 January 2022 06:29 am
The much awaited cabinet reshuffle which was to get underway this month has been delayed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as an SLFP split from the government is imminent, the Daily Mirror learns.
Political sources said that several ministries are going to change heads, including Fisheries, Agriculture, Highways and Environment, but this has been further delayed due to an imminent exit by the SLFP from the government.
SLFP Leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena has already hinted he will form his own alliance and invite other political parties to join, to contest future elections. Some SLFP MPs have in recent months also been critical of some government policies, and this split has increased so much so that the SLPP parliamentarians have also openly begun criticising the SLFP.
This has been shot down by the SLPP seniors who have advised the younger MPs in recent days to avoid confrontations with the SLFP to allow them to exit the government respectfully.
However, while the SLFP leadership has signalled a split with the SLPP, the Daily Mirror learns that all SLFP parliamentarians will not leave the government. While some are likely to sit in the opposition ranks once the party leaves the government, some SLFP MPs will breakaway and continue to sit with the government in Parliament.
The SLPP is also in talks with some minority parties, including some Muslim MPs who have already shown a willingness to join the government. However, this will take place in exchange of deputy ministries and state ministries if they join and support the SLPP led government.
In the new cabinet reshuffle, new faces are also expected to receive key portfolios while some state ministries will be further strengthened. (JAMILA HUSAIN)