It is reported that Minister Ramesh Pathirana has refused to accept the post of Health Minister. Sri Lanka Latest News
English weekend newspapers had reported that before the president was to visit Cuba and America, Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella was summoned and informed to resign from the position of health minister and it was further revealed that Mr. Ramesh Pathirana will be sworn in as the new health minister.
But political sources say that Mr Ramesh Pathirana has refused to accept the position of Health Minister, and accordingly, it has been proposed to appoint Mr. Anura Yapa Priyadarshana, an independent member of parliament from Pohottuwa, as the Health Minister.
Earlier, when Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa was in the presidency, Mr Ramesh Pathirana had been invited to accept the position of Minister of Health, but Mr. Pathirana had refused the proposal due to the fact that he was a doctor.
Under that situation, it has been learned that this proposal has been submitted to Mr Anura Priyadarshana Yapa through a third party who does not represent the Parliament.
Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was elected to Parliament from Pohottuwa and later worked as an independent MP.
Then it was proposed to give the leadership of the new political alliance that Mr. Nimal Lanza is ready to form to Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
But building that alliance has failed so far and only Mr. Nimal Lanza and Minister Nalin Fernando have participated in a discussion held at Mr. Yapa’s Kuliapitiya residence.
Accordingly, it is said that the creation of the relevant alliance has completely failed.
However, the leaders of Pohottuwa have also come to know about the proposal to give Mr. Anura Pridarshana Yapa the post of Health Minister and it is known that that party has also objected to it.
It has been learned that Mr Anura Priyadarshana is an independent member of parliament from Pohottu, and if the Pohottu chiefs decide to give him the position of health minister, they have decided to take strict action.
The reason for this is that Podujana Peramuna, the main party of the government, has submitted to the President a list of the names of the ministers who should be held at the beginning.
Accordingly, it is said that the leaders of that party have decided to take strict action against Mr Anura Priyadarshana if they go beyond that list and give him a ministerial position.