Johnston asks for Trade Ministry?

• President had reportedly told his cabinet that he had no more intentions of expanding his cabinet

Former Highways Minister Johnston Fernando is reported to have sought a cabinet portfolio from President Ranil Wickremesinghe since a new cabinet was sworn in a few months ago, the Daily Mirror learns.   

litical sources said that the ministry he has sought is the Trade Portfolio.   

However, his request is yet to be approved by the President who recently said that he would not be handing out any more portfolios anytime soon following the latest appointments of Jeevan Thondaman and Pavithra Wanniarachchi as cabinet ministers.   

The President had reportedly told his cabinet that he had no more intentions of expanding his cabinet further anytime soon.   

Meanwhile, after reading the Daily Mirror article, a spokesman for the former Minister,  in a brief statement stated that Fernando had not requested for any portfolio from anyone.   
The Spokesman further said that the Daily Mirror should have contacted the former Minister for a comment before publishing the news story.   

However, attempts by the Daily Mirror to contact the former minister before the article was published, failed.