• Becomes first to be sacked among ministers 
• Follows comments on agriculture policies’ ‘failure’ 
• Claims he can return to legal profession even ‘tomorrow’

  BY Pamodi Waravita Education Reforms, Open Universities, and Distance Learning Promotion State Minister Susil Premajayantha was removed from his state ministerial portfolio yesterday (4), two days after he said the Government’s agricultural policies were a “failure”, a comment which he yesterday said he had made “on behalf of the public”.  Premajayantha’s removal with immediate effect was announced early last morning by the President’s Media Division (PMD), which stated the removal was made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in accordance with the powers vested in him.  Speaking to the media at his office following the announcement, Premajayantha said that he has worked under three presidents and that his removal was not a “big thing”.  “I heard that I was removed from my state ministerial post. These are not big things. I became a Minister in 2000. I have worked under three presidents. We are not usually informed of our removal. They do not have to give us reasons – the Executive President can appoint and remove us as he wishes. The media asked me at the Delkanda Market recently about the cost of living and the prices of goods. I said that the prices are exorbitant because agriculture has failed in the country and that the policy decisions made with regard to the sector have failed. I spoke on behalf of the people there,” Premajayantha said.  Responding to media questions on whether he was surprised by the removal, Premajayantha said that it would have only been a problem if this decision was not taken.  “Considering the way this country is going, economically and otherwise, the destination is clear. By talking about that, we are speaking on behalf of the public. If we do not speak on behalf of the public, a government cannot be corrected. The public has appointed us, and we speak for them.”  He said that although there are rumours that certain persons within the Government wanted him removed and that although “they must have talked about this at the Cabinet of Ministers’ meeting on 3 January 2022 night”, he believes that this was an Executive decision.  “Even without the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, a president can remove ministers as he wishes. But now with the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, he can even remove the Prime Minister if he wants,” he said.  He also said that this was a blessing in disguise for his future career in politics.  “Some in Parliament have been given responsibilities although they are persons who are not even qualified, by their education level, to be a sanitation worker. So they do not understand the value of education. This is a blessing to my future politics. I started at the Kotte Municipal Council in 1991. I have served as a Minister since 2000. I worked with the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition under several Presidents, and helped win elections. I was the UPFA’s General Secretary for 11 years,” said Premajayantha.  He further said that he has his legal profession which he can “start tomorrow” and that he is not dependent on politics for his livelihood.  At the Delkanda Market on Sunday (2), Premajayantha criticised the Government and its policies, saying that “subject ministers and the Government must know how to ensure that prices of food do not rise unfairly”.  “When the fertiliser does not come on time, how can the farmers engage in agricultural activities? The ones who made these decisions are responsible for this. By doing things they cannot do, only they have led this entire country into trouble. Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage has failed. There is no ‘our’ Government as we cannot make decisions. We have been kept on the bench as reserves.” Premajayantha’s removal comes after a spate of resignations and removals that occurred over the past few months of government officials. The Morning reported yesterday (4) that President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, who resigned last month and who was due to leave his post on 31 January 2022, had been requested by the President to leave by 15 January 2022. Former Ministry of Agriculture Secretary Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige was removed from his portfolio last month, following his warning of a food crisis in Sri Lanka. His removal followed a number of resignations and removals of agriculture industry officials, including the resignations of Maj. Gen. Sumedha Perera and Rohana Pushpakumara, who held the post of Ministry Secretary, prior to Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige. In September 2021, Paddy Marketing Board Chairman Dr. Jatal Mannapperuma resigned. In October, it was reported that Aluthgamage had instructed to remove Prof. Buddhi Marambe from all posts the latter held in the Ministry, including from the post of the Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee of the Ministry, for allegedly criticising government policies. Pesticides Registrar Dr. J.A. Sumith was also removed. Among Ministers, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and Wimal Weerawansa have been critical of the controversial Yugadanavi power plant deal.   Multiple attempts by The Morning to contact Premajayantha yesterday proved futile.