COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s deputy minister for tourism development was sacked on Tuesday in a direct action taken by President Maithripala Sirisena, indicating the beginning of a purging of ‘disloyal’ elements in the ruling party.

The president sacked Arundika Fernando, a Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalist, from his portfolio, with immediate effect.

He was, however, among a significant number of politicians belonging to the Rajapaksa camp who was inducted into the council of ministers by president Sirisena after the 2015 parliamentary elections in the hope that they would switch their loyalty to him.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2017