PHU urges Govt. to appoint a more ‘expert’ Finance Minister

Tuesday, 1 December 2015 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday claimed that the Government has professionals far better suited for the position of Finance Minister, than the current Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

PHU Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila alleged that President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Karunanayake as Finance Minister despite there being many more economic ‘experts’ within the current Government.

Gammanpila stated, “We handed over a no-confidence motion against Karunanayake, to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya with 44 signatures from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs. It shows the majority of the UPFA do not have faith in the actions of Karunanayake.”

He added, “We do not want to steal Karunanayake’s position, but we urge the Government to appoint a better expert for this significant portfolio.”

He asserted that all UPFA MPs who signed the no-faith motion against Karunanayake would definitely be voting against the budget.

MR did not sign no-confidence motion: Gammanpila

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa did not sign the no-confidence motion against Ravi Karunanayake for strategic reasons.

Speaking at a media conference, Gammanpila said that several other opposition MPs had also not signed the motion.

Prasanna Ranatunga and Wimal Weerawansa could not sign the motion as they were overseas, Gammanpila pointed out. Others who could not sign included Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, due to ill health. (Asian Mirror)