Samaraweera resigns from Media Minister post

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 June 2005, 14:46 GMT]
Mr.Mangala Samaraweera Tuesday gave up his Media Ministry portfolio, but continued to remain as Minister of Ports and Aviation, political sources in Colombo said. Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge has accepted Mr.Samaraweera's resignation sent on Tuesday, ruling party sources said.

Sources speculated that the main reason for resignation was that he was sidelined by Ms Kumaratunge when she directly informed the Media Ministry Secretary Mr.W.B.Ganegala without referring it to Mr.Mangala Samaraweera the appointment of Mr.Harim Peiris, Director General of the Relief, Rehabilitation and reconstruction and Mr.Eric Fernando, Director General of the Presidential Media Unit to spearhead a campaign to educate the public about the Joint Mechanism, sources said.

Another reason attributed to his departure is the anticipated appointment of Mr.Reginald Cooray to a cabinet position after his expected resignation from the post of Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council, sources said.

According to political sources, Ms Kumaratunge has written to Mr.Reginald Cooray to resign from the CM post as he faces a no-confidence motion moved by the main opposition United National Party (UNP), supported by the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a major constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by Ms Kumaratunge. She has offered Mr.Reginald Cooray a ministerial portfolio after he is appointed as an MP on his resignation from the Chief Minister post.

The post of Media Ministry is likely to be offered to Mr.Reginald Cooray, sources said. Mr.Reginald Cooray was Media Minister before he became the Chief Minister of the Western provincial Council.

Speculation is rife in Colombo political circles that Ms Kumaratunge is seriously contemplating to reshuffle her cabinet soon.