Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya resigns
While Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya officially announced his resignation from the post last evening and left the government to accept the post of deputy leader of the UNP, the remaining members of the UNP Democratic Group decided to stay with the government.
Mr. Jayasuriya, who issued a statement, said he could not agree with the ideas of this government regarding the economic crisis, though he approved of the steps taken to defeat terrorism: “This economic downturn is becoming a crisis which will greatly affect the people,” he said in his statement. He further pointed out that the government, in which he had held a ministerial portfolio, had not been able the implement the 17th Amendment: “The campaign for the implementation of the 17th Amendment began with a citizens’ committee and later grew into a vast civil movement; and it would be a breach of trust on my part to remain with the government, as the people had placed their trust in me and I, too, was involved in this campaign,” he said.
At the 53rd congress held on Saturday, UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe made an open invitation to the crossed over UNPers to rejoin the party to build the country.
