A reshuffle brought to give positions to lackeys of Rajapaksa family – JVP

TUESDAY, 29 JANUARY 2013

The reshuffle of ministers carried out yesterday (28th) was solely a move to present ministerial portfolios to those lackeys who served Rajapaksa family but not with any scientific basis or one that targeted development of the economy of the country says Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath.

Speaking at a media conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (29th) Mr. Herath said, “Normally cabinet appointments are made targeting economic development of a country. Also, a scientific method is used in making these appointments. This scientific method should target the social and physical development of that country. However, no such scientific method is used in appointing the cabinet in our country. The only basis of the government in appointing ministers is to give positions to lackeys who serve Rajapaksa family. This creates adverse pressure on the people in the country.

Those in the government come out with various reasons for the reshuffle of the cabinet. However, the move is to give ministerial posts to those who serve, flatter, foster and attend on the Rajapaksa family. Vijith Wijemuny Soyza is given Wildlife Conservation while Susil Premajayanthe is given the Environment & Recycled Energy – animals to Zoysa and the jungle to Susil! There is no scientific basis at all. How could a country be developed by such a cabinet?

Several ministers have been assigned for power and energy. Pavithra who handed over the impeachment motion has been given electricity ministry while Anura Priyadhrashana Yapa who headed the impeachment process was elevated to the petroleum ministry. These ministerial portfolios have been given to elevate those who took an active part in the impeachment process but not to develop the energy sector in the country. For, this government has no intention of developing the country or having projects on a scientific basis. The Recycled Energy has been removed from Pavithra and given to Susil. His ministry is Environment & Recycled Energy These ministries do not have short term or long term project proposals. This has become a crazy, tomfoolery cabinet. It has become the ‘miraculous joke’ of the world. In appointing or reshuffling the cabinet no attention has been paid to the country’s physical or human development.

Why did the government need a reshuffle of the cabinet so suddenly? The masses are eager to know the real reason. It is carried out not because of weakness or inability of ministers. The government wanted to remove certain portions from certain ministers and elevate some others. A portion of Bandula Gunawardene’s ministry has been taken away and a new ministry called educational services has been created. It has been given to Duminda Dissanayake. Recently, Bandula Gunawardene had opposed in the cabinet a decision taken regarding distribution of clothes for school uniforms. It is as a consequence to this the education services portfolio that was under him has been removed.

Even with this reshuffle a deplorable situation has arisen for education. There are two ministers, two deputy ministers and a monitoring MP for education only. However, the government has still not been able to decide the marks levels according to the ‘Z’ score for the A/L examination held in 2011. Despite 16 months have gone by, the government has not been able to take a decision regarding this matter that affects future of these students. However, the government has commenced military training for the students. These students still do not know which university they would be sent to.

Also, the development of primary education in school education has been handed over to the Ministry of Economic Development. Now primary schools development will be done by the Ministry of Economic Development. Education in the country has been fragmented.

Former Minister of Power and Energy reiterated that he would make Electricity Board a profit earning institution. He said there would be no power cuts. However, in the end the electricity tariff went up. There were periods without electricity. All projects that were newly started were unsuccessful. In the end his statements became only empty words. The result is he became the Minister of Technology and Research.

The country has a new minister now. He is the Minister of Sugar Industries. We may also have ministers of dhal, coconut and rice in the future. This is only a jumbo cabinet. It is an elastic jumbo cabinet. New ministers are appointed according to whims and fancies. An eccentric comedy is being played. When masses are tormented with the increase in prices of essential commodities a portfolio of public recreation has been established. Even if people do not have an environment for recreation Jayaratne Herath could make use of the portfolio for his entertainment. There is no other intention in giving these ministerial portfolios other than being grateful to individuals who have helped to defend the crumbling family rule.

With the new appointment there are 67 senior ministers that also include the President and the Prime Minister. In addition there are two non-cabinet ministers and 28 deputy minister who enjoy all the privileges of cabinet ministers. These 69 ministers have 1035 personnel as staff. The 28 deputy ministers have a staff of 280. Most of the members of the staff of these ministers and deputy ministers consist of their wives, siblings and relatives. It is a good opportunity to get them employment. They get vehicles, official residences, fuel allowances and various other perks. The burden of all these facilities falls on masses. All these expenses are covered with the taxes levied from masses. The burden of the eccentric cabinet of ministers and the families and relations has to be borne by the masses. It is under such circumstance that the prices of essential commodities go up.

During every month since January, 2012 the tax for IDD calls, sugar, dhal, garlic, various cooking oils went up; prices of fuel, transport rates, electricity bills, tax for three wheelers, motor cycles, liquor, cigarettes, interest for housing loans, prices of vegetables, what flour, fruits, gas, tableware, water bills went up.

The marriage fee went up from Rs.1000 to Rs.5000.The death certificate rose to Rs.2000. The deed fee has become Rs.500. The stamp fee in a church marriage rose from Rs.25 to Rs.750. Media has reported that electricity tariff would go up soon. This entire burden has descended on the masses. A new amendment to bus fares is imminent. By now prices of all vegetables have gone beyond Rs.300. The cabinet has become a set of ludicrous nitwits who play an eccentric comedy. Vegetable prices have gone up due to non availability of a proper plan for the government. A gang of middlemen called ‘Naadi’ is the cause of vegetable prices going up states the government. If so the country doesn’t need a government. As such, the masses in the country should rally against the arbitrary administration of this government that comes out with idiotic statement.”