• Claims Party did not consider seniority at all in certain cases

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian and State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe yesterday (5) criticised the allegations levelled by certain senior members of the ruling SLPP that they have not been given proper places in the current Government.

The media questioned her about the allegations made by some members of the SLPP that they are not receiving treatment befitting their seniority under the current Government.

In response, Kumarasinghe said that the SLPP also did not consider seniority in certain cases. "Did the SLPP work with respect to seniority? Sometimes, they did not consider seniority. I was one of those who were not given due consideration. There was a time when 50 Parliamentarians other than me were given Ministerial positions. What goes around comes around."

The media also questioned her about reports that there are plans to hold a Presidential Election soon, and in response, she stated that the Government should be ready to face any election. "We can see in the future what election will come. We don't need to be afraid of that. President Ranil Wickremesinghe works very diligently to meet the needs of the people. That's why no one can point a finger. Therefore, no matter what election comes, we have to face it."

In mid 2022, Wickremesinghe was appointed as the Prime Minister in the face of massive protests against then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP led Government. He was thereafter elected as the President with the majority support of the SLPP in a Parliamentary vote held following the resignation of Rajapaksa from the Presidency in July, 2022. Wickremesinghe did not dissolve the Cabinet of Ministers appointed by his predecessor and instead made some changes to it from time to time. It is against this backdrop that the SLPP recently said that it is expecting the President to appoint a new Cabinet with more Ministries being given to those whom they called 'real SLPPers'.

Kumarasinghe, who was elected to the Parliament representing the SLPP in the 2020 General Election, did not get any Ministerial or State Ministerial position in the Government led by Rajapaksa. She hinted on several occasions that it was done at the wish of SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed 21 State Ministers in April, 2022, and at that time Kumarasinghe was given the position of State Minister of Culture and Performing Arts. She was then appointed as the State Minister of Women and Child Affairs under the Wickremesinghe led Government.