• Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says President to hold key post until new Finance Minister found
• Relief Budget discussion deferred to next Cabinet meeting pending finalisation of Finance Minister 
• Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando opines Finance Minister post kept vacant for SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva

Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Kanchana Wijesekara yesterday confirmed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will operate as the Acting Finance Minister, until a decision is made on the vacant portfolio.

“The President and Prime Minister will decide on who will become the next Finance Minister. Right now, President Rajapaksa in his capacity will act as the Finance Minister, till a new minister is appointed,” Wijesekara said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

Separately, Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando said the Finance Minister should be kept vacant for SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. He made these remarks during a popular political tv program last Wednesday.

The Cabinet was expanded to 19 last Wednesday with the appointment of eight more Ministers by President Rajapaksa, but still no one is appointed to the crucial Finance Minister position.

It was tipped that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe may take up the post, as former Finance Minister Ali Sabry reportedly declined.

Last week, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe also highlighted the need to appoint a Finance Minister, to fast-track support programs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and foreign debt restructuring exercise.

Asked if the Cabinet discussed the new relief Budget, Power and Energy Minister Wijesekara pointed out that it will be taken up at the next meeting, once a Finance Minister is appointed.

On Monday, Premier Wickremesinghe said a new Budget would be presented with significantly reduced capital expenditure and the money saved would be used for welfare programs. 

RW to be sworn in as Finance Minister