After the Unfulfilled battle with UNP over the power, Maithripala-Wickramsinghe government is now mulling over cabinet reshuffle. However, President has asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickramsinghe to keep remain Dayasiri Jayasekara as Sports Minister, Cricket Age reliably learns.
During Two week ‘Political Battle’ to take control, Dayasiri openly tried every possible trick to topple Wickramsinghe.
On Sunday, Dayasiri, the SLFP leader, informed president Maithripala Sirisena about a non existing fact,
According to the private Sirasa Television Network, which was on an agenda to back Sirisena’s move to oust Prime Minister Ranil Wickramsinghe, on Sunday Dayasiri informed President that they had 113 votes in parliament to form a government of their own.
However, when parliament began its session on Monday, the putsch had fizzled out. Instead of the 113 signatures of MPs supporting them, the SLFP/UPFA tabled a request for an adjournment debate with the signatures of just 20 MPs.
Obviously, being handicapped by lack of support in the parliament to oust Prime Minister, SLFP decided to remain in the government!
However, the information give by Dayasiri created a embarrassing situation for country’s President.
“As he has proved himself as one of the most influential person in trying to topple the Ranil Wickramsinghe, most probably he might be replaced. However, at the same time, President Sirisena also wants to keep him on the high profile ministerial portfolios” a Political Source revealed to Cricket Age.
However, even after the backing of president, the road is not so smooth for Dayasiri, as in a new scenario Wickramsinghe has become more powerful than the president. It has learnt that since Monday, Dayasiri hasn’t attended any of the cabinet meeting of the government.
“Even after President support, if he loses his portfolio, SB Dissanayake and Harin Fernando are the Front Runner to replace Dayasiri as Sports Minister” the source further added.
Two more names – Veteran Minister John Amartunga and former Sports Minister Navin Disanayake – are also floating to take the portfolio.
If Dayasiri departs, his tenure will be remembered as one of the most Controversial in Sri Lanka history. Especially, his over-interest in cricket raised many eyebrows over the years l.
During the India tour of Sri Lanka in August last year, he engaged in war of words with Iconic Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga over the certain loopholes of SLC.
There have been reservations about him that he acts like a ‘Cricket Minister’ instead of being ‘Sports Minister’.
During the India tour of Sri Lanka in August last year, he engaged in war of words with Iconic Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga over the certain loopholes of SLC.
Interestingly, after that hasn’t played for Sri Lanka in any form of the game and now he is mulling over the retirement!
