Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera has yesterday vehemently protested against the Cabinet paper presented by Minister Ravi Karunanayake requesting for Rs 364 million from the Treasury to shift the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development to another location.
On an earlier occasion too when this Cabinet paper was presented the Minister of Finance had raised his objections. Yesterday at the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena this proposal was discussed and Minister Mangala Samaraweera had vehemently opposed it.
This Cabinet paper suggests the Ministry of Power now located in a rented out premises at Ananda Coomeraswamy Mawatha Colombo be shifted to a rented out premises in Nawam Mawatha Colombo. When this paper was taken up for discussion Finance Minister expressing his views has refused to grant funds for this move. Stating that a decision has been taken not to spend on new offices, therefore he cannot agree to this proposal the Finance Minister stated. In reply Minister Karunanayake had said that as the present building in which the Ministry is housed does not have sufficient space, it was proposed to shift it to new place.
(Daily Mirror)