Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had notified the three Acting Ministers appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena, without notifying him, not to participate in the Cabinet meetings. The three Acting Ministers are Lucky Jayawardena, Anoma Gamage and Buddhika Pathirana.
The three Acting Ministers were appointed by the President on June 10th to fill the posts left vacant by the three Muslim ministers who resigned, namely Rishad Bathiudeen, Rauff Hakeem and Kabir Hashim.
Accordingly, State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Lucky Jayawardena was appointed as the Acting Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Buddhika Pathirana was appointed as the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development and Vocational Training and Skills.
Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Mrs. Anoma Gamage was appointed as the Acting Minister of Highways and Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development.
The President had failed to notify the Prime Minister regarding the appointing of these acting ministers and the relevant ministers had also failed to notify the Prime Minister prior to accepting the appointments.
Meanwhile, the names recommended by the Prime Minister had been rejected by the President.
(Mirror)