The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday sacked two dissidents from his cabinet – Wimal Weerawansa the Industries Minister and Udaya Gammanpila, the Minister of Energy. They belonged to two alliance partner parties, National Freedom Front and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya respectively.
Weerawansa and Gammanpila had been vocal critics of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government in general and of the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in particular. They cite the Finance Minister’s “incompetence” for the forex shortage and the shortage of essentials in the country and have complained that he had not listened to their advice. They blame the Finance Minister for not working in coordination with the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
The duo along with the Water supplies minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara had gone to the Supreme Court against the Finance Minister’s decision to sell its stake in a power company to the American firm New Fortress Energy. The Treasury’s 40% stake in the Yugadanavi Power Station in Kerawalapitiya was sold to the US company.
Following the removal of Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila from their ministerial portfolios, Gamini Lokuge was sworn in as the new Minister of Energy, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi was sworn in as the new Minister of Power and S.B. Dissanayake MP was sworn in as the new Minister of Industries. Gamini Lokuge, Pavithradevi Waniarachchi and S.B.Dissanayake are currently seen as Rajapaksa loyalists.
There may be more changes in the cabinet as there are more dissidents to neutralize.
