Arjuna rejects nepotism charge on SLPA – Says brother qualified, family connections no impediment
Posted on October 15th, 2015
By Sandun Jayawardana Courtesy The Nation
Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga stated if his brother had enough qualifications to be Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), then family connections should not be a barrier to him being appointed to the post. Ranatunga was speaking in response to a query raised by The Nation on reports that his elder brother Dammika was on the list of names that he had submitted to President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the appointment.
Ranatunga said he was not concerned over reports appearing in some websites charging that the minister was trying to continue the practice of nepotism that was so synonymous with the previous regime. A final decision (on the appointment) will be made by a committee which includes the President. However, if he (Dammika) has the necessary qualifications, then why not?” Ranatunga asked.
When queried if he thought his brother was the best qualified person to be head of the SLPA, Ranatunga replied that would be determined by the committee tasked with making the appointments.
President Sirisena last month announced that heads of all government institutions will be appointed by a special committee that would include both him and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. While ministers can nominate candidates, the final decision would be made by this committee.
Meanwhile, in a letter dated October 6 sent to the Prime Minister, the Joint Trade Union Forum of the SLPA has urged the President and Prime Minister to appoint Dammika Ranatunga as the new SLPA Chairman.
October 15th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
All committees,Boards,Unions,T.V channels,News Media are run by Jarapalanaya Govt so we cannot expect good Governance by these traitors at any time. Let them appoint their brothers,Sisters,Wives,and Husbands to every Govt or Private posts and do the job. We as citizens can do is only watch like watching a cricket match and decide in the next election whether we keep them or kick their butt out. From 2015 election we got a better idea and understand about politicians more than before so in the next election (if there is one) we should not give our vote blindly and help the corrupt politicians to destroy the Sinhala homeland.
Governing a country is not like playing a cricket match. Most of appointees in this Govt are corrupt,Uneducated and without experience. Arjuna is one of them. Maybe he thought if Sira can appoint his police brother why cant I do the same to my cricket brother. This is politics in Sri lankan way. Sri lanka has become a Fools paradise because everyone fools one another to survive. Politics have gone to dogs and the politicians has become stray dogs roaming on the streets biting innocent citizens. What happened to my blessed land My Lord! Answer please?