Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday said he is opposed to forming a national government only to expand the Cabinet of Ministers, indicating that his rift with Prime Minister Ranil was far from over. Wickremesinghe-led Government on Friday sought the consent of the Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament to form a ‘national Government’, a move seen as a step to get a majority in the 225-member House.
Addressing the nation at the 71st National Independence Day celebrations, Sirisena said the proposed national Government is simply an attempt to increase the number of Cabinet Ministers and provide privileges to the ministers at the people’s expense. Calling the move unethical, the President said the people’s wish is to limit the Cabinet to 25 Ministers.
“I have seen media reports of an attempt to form a national Government. I stand opposed to the move as this would be an exercise only to expand the cabinet of ministers and attain more privileges,” Sirisena said referring to the move by Wickremesinghe.
Wickremesinghe was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena in October last year and strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed the Prime Minister.