No division in cabinet - media minister

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 16:13 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government Thursday refuted media reports that the cabinet was divided over the proroguing of Parliament and the referendum. Mr.Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Media and Information said in a press release, "no minister walked out of the Cabinet meeting held Wednesday, in protest against the President's decision to prorogue parliament and to hold a referendum on August 21.

Several newspapers Thursday carried news reports stating, "four ministers, namely Mr. G. L. Peiris, Mr. S.B. Dissanayake, Mr. Mahinda Wijesekara and Mr.S. Arumugam had walked out of the Cabinet meeting protesting against the decision of the President, proroguing parliament and to seek a referendum."

Minister Yapa who is also the spokesman of the cabinet said, "I categorically state there is no division or dissension among the ministers. All were unanimous in supporting the stand taken by the President in tackling the present political crisis. Reports which appeared in some sections of the media stating that four ministers had walked out of the cabinet meeting was malicious and totally untrue. All ministers expressed their agreement with the President's actions taken so far".