Basil commences operation to make his wife the chief minister

Thursday, 02 May 2013 

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has commenced a special operation to get his wife, Pushpa Rajapaksa appointed as the next Chief Minister of the Western Province, sources from the SLFP headquarters said.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa has assigned his wife to coordinate all development programmes in the Gampaha District and has asked all government ministers, MPS and electoral organizers to carry out all development projects in the area under her supervision. Sources said that all governing party members in the Gampaha District have to now meet Basil’s wife to discuss development projects and ministers and MPS from the district are displeased with this latest development.

It is Western province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunge and Basil’s closest associate, Western Province Minister Nimal Lansa who are greatly disturbed by this operation. Prasanna Ranatunge is displeased that he has been limited to looking into the work in the Kelaniya electorate after Minister Mervyn Silva’s removal while Pushpa Rajapaksa has been assigned the development work in the Gampaha District.

Nimal Lansa who was also hopeful of polling the highest number of votes at the next provincial council election is also upset with the current situation.

SLFP Katana organizer, Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle has complained to Namal Rajapaksa that there was undue interferences in her electorate. “It is the President and not Minister Basil who decides on the Chief Minister,” Namal had said.

President sidelines Nivard Cabraal

Thursday, 02 May 

The President has accepted that Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal is a liar and his powers are likely to be curtailed, sources from the government said.

The President has closely studied the report presented by a member of the Presidential staff on the failure of every project that was mooted by the Central Bank Governor. The President had then told his staff, “I though this fellow was smart. All I can now see is that he is a liar. If I had sidelined PB after taking this fellows advice, the entire government would have been in trouble. The government is running because of PB and Gota.”

The President had spoken of every project pushed by the Central Bank Governor like the project to get the Commonwealth Games to the country at a great cost to the country. The President had then asked Namal Rajapaksa not to be misled by the Governor.

Secretary’s friends get Kalu Ganga project

Thursday, 02 May 2013 

The Irrigation Ministry Secretary Ivan Silva has decided to assign the project of constructing irrigation bunds in the Kalu Ganga Project to his friends, sources from the Irrigation Ministry said.

Although there’s a project manager, the Irrigation Ministry Secretary has taken charge of all the files related to contracts in the project. The project is funded by the Saudi government and an international consultancy company has been appointed fro the project according to the memorandum of understanding signed for the project. Accordingly, a Swiss company, Poyry company had been selected. However, the Ministry Secretary has delayed handing in the appointment letter to the company.

According to the relevant memorandum of understanding, it is this Swiss company that has the mandate to select the contractors for the project. Nevertheless, sources say that the Ministry Secretary is engage din selecting contractors for the project through two committees that are loyal to him.

Although the Swiss company had tried to hold several discussions with the Ministry Secretary Ivan Silva on the violation of the clauses in the memorandum of understanding, the secretary has avoided meeting them.