Maithri had not asked for special position in 20A, says SLFP

•  Had asked for three portfolios, received two
• SLFP likely to vote in favour of 20A
• Maithri to remain SLFP Leader
• We will respect the decision of the President

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Former President Maithripala Sirisena had not asked for any special positions in the new government, which was to be included in the 20th amendment and will continue to lead the SLFP, which is now part of the government, a senior SLFP source told Daily Mirror yesterday.   Rejecting reports that Sirisena had asked for a senior ministerial position, which is in par to a deputy prime minister, the senior party source said that there had been no such agreement or request to the President or Prime Minister and Sirisena will continue to lead his party. 

“We did not ask anything and neither did they agree to give anything. Sirisena will continue to lead the party,” the source said.  Further, the SLFP said they had not requested for any additional portfolios from the President or Prime Minister and although they had initially requested for three, they received two.  Following the implementation of the 20th amendment, which will do away with limiting the cabinet to 30 ministers, the SLFP will not ask for any more ministries and will respect the President’s decision to limit the cabinet to 26.  “As a government, we will respect the decision of the President. If he does not want to increase the number of cabinet ministers we do not want to ask for more ministries,” the SLFP member said. Meanwhile, the SLFP will appoint a committee to study the 20th amendment and will submit its report to the Central Committee.  However, being a part of the government, the SLFP is likely to vote in favour of the amendment.