COLOMBO, 12 February 2004 — The president sacked 39 ministers and deputy ministers from the interim government headed by her political rival yesterday, worsening Sri Lanka’s political crisis.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved Parliament on Saturday and ordered new elections on April 2 — three years ahead of schedule. She and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been locked in a bitter power struggle that threatens to derail the island’s efforts to end a 20-year civil war.
“The president has sacked 27 non-Cabinet ministers and 12 deputy ministers,” presidential spokesman Janadasa Peiris said, reading from a presidential statement. “In view of the dissolution of Parliament, I have decided to remove all non-Cabinet and deputy ministers by virtue of powers vested in me.”
The sacked ministers headed less-important departments such as highway development, housing development and irrigation. They did not attend Cabinet meetings.
However, one prominent Cabinet member, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda, expressed his intention to resign after receiving a letter dismissing him from a second post — deputy minister of policy development.
Moragoda, who is also a peace negotiator, said he didn’t think it was possible for him to discharge his duties under the circumstances.
