18 October 2023 07:03 am Views - 8593
• UNP likely to look at contesting the 2025 General Election under a broader alliance
• Health Minister and Sports Minister likely to be replaced
• All members of UNP informed to begin campaign at grassroot levels
• DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon is likely to get the IGP post once his name is recommended to the Constitutional Council
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to make drastic changes in the higher up of the gov-ernment including in the cabinet and the defence ranks following the budget in November, the Daily Mirror learns.
The move comes at a time when the government is feeling the heat over the inability of some ministers to perform in their portfolios and a call for change in some high defence ranks.
Amidst the tussle to appoint a new Inspector General of Police, (IGP), the Daily Mirror learns that DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon is likely to get the seat once his name is recommended to the Constitutional Council after the three week extension of C.D. Wickramaratne ends later this month.
Deshabandu Tennekoon has been backed by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and is also likely to get the nod from the President himself. Under the cabinet changes which are to take place, as of now two of the ministers who are likely to be replaced are Health Minister and Sports Minister.
Health Minister Keheliya Ram-bukwella has been at the receiving end for months due to his inability to perform as the Health Minister amidst an ailing health crisis and allegations of poor quality drugs entering the local market, senior government sources said.
Where the President's own party, the United National Party (UNP) is concerned, the Daily Mirror learns that all members of the UNP have been informed to begin a campaign at the grassroot levels after the budget in November to prepare for the 2025 General Election.
The UNP which faced a humiliating defeat at the 2020 General Election is attempting to regroup before the next General Election and all members who are presently in government office have been told to begin the campaign after November in order to regroup and strengthen the party.
It is likely that the UNP will look at contesting the 2025 General Election under a broader alli-ance. (JAMILA HUSAIN)