SJB hits out at composition of ministers, state ministers

COLOMBO (News1st): The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has criticized the composition of ministers and state ministers who were sworn in on Wednesday. "There is a reasonable question of whether they have hoodwinked the majority of the people who voted for them," Harin Fernando, an SJB parliamentarian said. He pointed out that several members of the Rajapaksa family have been appointed to head key ministries. "Although they have a two-thirds majority have they appointed at least one professor to the cabinet?," Fernando, a national list parliamentarian queried. He pointed out that state ministries have been allocated for subjects including cane, brass, chillies, onion, and tomatoes "What sort of a joke is this?," he remarked. Meanwhile, S.M. Marikkar, an elected SJB lawmaker, allged that there is an ulterior motive for the government in its attempt to abolish the 19th amendment. "That is to pave the way for Basil Rajapaksa who is a US citizen to enter parliament and then give him a ministerial portfolio," he claimed.