Discussions underway to appoint SF as Law and Order Minister

Discussions are ongoing among government allies to establish a full-time Law and Order Ministry and appoint Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in charge of it, UNP Chairman and Minister Kabir Hashim told journalists yesterday.

He underscored that several ministers were prepared to sacrifice their posts to accommodate Field Marshal Fonseka in the Cabinet. As per the Constitution, the number of cabinet ministers is confined to 30.

It was also reported that a signature campaign was ongoing among ruling party MPs to handover a petition to President Maithripala Sirisena calling him to appoint Field Marshal Fonseka as the Law and Order Minister.

Meanwhile, Education Minister and UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said composition of the Security Council would be changed before long.

“Security forces are doing a great job carrying out raids and apprehending those who are responsible for Easter Sunday attacks. Vital information is being uncovered. The government is looking for the possibility of introducing a mechanism to regulate Madrassa schools. Although these institutions don’t come under my purview, we are trying to see whether we could regulate them in some manner,” he said.

Referring to the closure of schools, he said all of them would be searched before being reopened on May 6.

He said the ‘blame game’ and efforts to gain cheap political mileage out of the current situation should stop immediately. (Yohan Perera)

Video by Sanjeewa