COLOMBO: Four members of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s cabinet have resigned because they felt “marginalised on account of our close ties to Mahinda Rajapaksa (the former head of state)”.

The four ministers announced their decision at a press conference on Thursday.

They complained that they were given insignificant portfolios and made to work under “junior politicians”.

The ministers who resigned were: Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene (parliamentary affairs); Dilan Perera (housing), Pavithra Wanniarachchi (environment) and C.B.Ratnayake (public administration).

They said they were entrusted with greater responsibilities in the Rajapaksa government. For example, Abeywardene was agriculture minister at that time while Mr Wanniarachchi held the portfolio f power and energy. Mr Ratnayake was minister of plantations in the previous government.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play