PB to be removed as Economic Dev. Secretary?

May 24, 2014 Sri Lanka’s powerful Finance Secretary Dr. P B Jayasundera is to be removed from the additional post of Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development, according to sources.  

Informed sources say that P.B. Jayasundera, who is also the Secretary to the Treasury and the Finance Ministry, will likely be removed from the position of Economic Development Secretary, in the wake of his ongoing conflict with Minister Wimal Weerawansa. 

The vociferous Minister has on numerous previous occasions launched scathing attacks on Dr P B Jayasundera, and had even called him an “economic hitman.”

The Minister’s latest salvo came during the Derana 360° programme on May 12  when he charged that Jayasundera is holding the government “hostage” and that he should be behind bars.  

The Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities claimed that P.B. Jayasundera is wrongfully exercising executive powers and that Ministers are helpless in front of the Finance Secretary’s chair.  

The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent party of the ruling UPFA, further alleged that Ministers are praising Jayasundera in the papers so that they can “ask for some money” and that Minister S.B. Dissanayake was a good example for this. 

However, the Higher Education Minister rejected these comments the following day saying, “I have not personally praised P.B. Jayasundera anywhere.” 

Minister Weerawansa had also attacked the government for not replacing Jayasundera with another financial expert and stated that failure to do so was due to the “brainlessness” of the government and its “biggest mistake.” 
  
He had alleged that P.B. Jayasundera is holding the government “hostage” and that the current regime and its decision makers are afraid to sack him. 

The National Freedom Front (NFF) leader had continued his clash with the ruling party when his party unveiled 12 proposals at its annual convention and declared that they would quit the ruling alliance if the government does not adhere to them.  

Meanwhile representatives of the NFF and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), coalition partners of the ruling UPFA government, met yesterday at Minister Weerawansa’s official residence in Tunmulla.

Weerawansa and Mohamed Muzammil were among those present from the NFF while the JHU was represented by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Western Provincial Councilors Udaya Gammanpila and Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe.  

Incidentally both parties were absent during the vote on the UNP-led Motion of No-confidence against the government, over its failure to take concrete steps to curb the drug trade in the country, and also during the vote on the Strategic Development Projects Acts.

Earlier this week two Uva Provincial Council members from the NFF have defected. Capt. Mihimal Munasinghe joined the UNP while W.A. Udayakumara joined the SLFP.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa and several NFF members are scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Temple Trees this morning, following an invitation extended by the President. 

A switch in Health and Plantation

Meanwhile it is also reported that Mrs Sudharma Karunaratne, who is the current Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation, will be transferred to the post of Health Secretary, which is currently held by Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka.

A series of crises had plagued the health sector in recent times while the midwifery training issue had been one of the main topics among the public and media. 

Several trade unions affiliated with the health sector had engaged in strike action over the issue while this had resulted in patients facing many difficulties in hospitals across the island. 

Trade unions in the health sector had strongly criticized certain decisions taken by Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka, which had led to the strike actions. 

It is said that the cold war between the Health Secretary and the Director General of Health Services was one of the main reasons for the issues to reach the point of trade union action.

Under these conditions the Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena had requested Dr. Jayathilaka to leave the post of Health Ministry Secretary, a highly-placed source told Ada Derana. 

Therefore Dr. Jayathilaka is likely to assume duties as the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries within the next couple of days.