Courtesy The Morning

The main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) accused the Government of nepotism through appointing those linked to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) to a number of high-ranking public service and diplomatic positions.

SJB Parliamentarian, attorney Chithral Fernando made these allegations while speaking at a press briefing held yesterday (21).

Before it came to power, the NPP stated that it will not give any person any government position based on friendships. However, a large number of individuals that supported the NPP’s victory have been given chairperson positions in Government institutions and secretary positions in ministries.”

Fernando alleged that an NPP member who contested in elections and lost and another individual who is a member of the NPP-run collective for retired military personnel have been given ambassador positions, which he said goes against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s statement that only the qualified would be appointed to ambassador positions. Moreover, he claimed that a number of other members of various groups run by the NPP have been appointed to high-level positions in the public sector including those handling disaster management, telecommunication, ports, and excise.