A new Cabinet will be sworn in within 48 hours in order to ensure that all necessary financial allocations be properly done for the next year, UNP MP Eran Wickremeratne yesterday said.
Wickremeratne also said that the new Cabinet will only consist of 30 ministerial portfolios that should only be held by the United National Front.
He also said that no MPs who joined hands with the political coup be given ministerial portfolios. Wickremeratne also pointed out the MPs whose allegiances were in question not be given portfolios either.
MP Wickremeratne was making these observations yesterday afternoon at a press brief held at Temple Trees following Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister.
“We cannot allow those people who went off the track for money or positions. Our people expect a new political culture from us. Yes, anyone who is interested can join or support our government, but not for any favourations or benefits. If we take people who supported this political coup back into our Cabinet, it will be a major setback. This is not a time for compromises,” Wickremeratne said.
MP Wickremeratne also observed that the ministers who will be given Cabinet portfolios should use the available facilities without looking for new luxuries. “They should work with whatever the resources and facilities already available. There needs not be any new vehicles or other such facilities. We surely need to cut down all these foreign tours to a minimum. That is what our UNP supporters are waiting for and that is what all the people in this country are expecting from us,” he also said.
Further speaking, Wickremeratne said that in the coming year, the UNF needs to follow a people-friendly, welfare oriented governance and a patriotic policy as sought out by the majority of the people in the country. Our journey in the coming year should take place under one vision with a specific direction, Wickremeratne further said. We cannot entertain many visions and take many directions, he added. He also observed that for the last three years, Yahapalana government was not able to do much for the low income families. “Some of those who were in the previous Cabinet blocked the government from giving reliefs for poor people. If we form a UNF government with a UNF members-only Cabinet we will be able to make a difference for our people,” he added.
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