Foreign Minister- Prof. G.L. Peiris Peiris and the Minister of Education – Dinesh Gunawardena have informed government bigwigs that they will soon take a decision about their ministerial positions.
The ministers have informed that they are compelled to do so after being unable to work with the ministry secretaries.
It is reported that they have already informed the Presidential Secretariat, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa about this.
The ministers have emphasized that they will have to take a firm decision if a decision is not taken regarding these ministry secretaries.
Prof. Kapila Perera is the Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Admiral Jayantha Colombage is the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry.
Who is Gamlath?
Before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had left for Scotland, Prof. Peiris had left for London to arrange necessary preparations.
A member of his personal staff – G. L. Gamlath had also joined him. However, Gamlath’s name had been dropped from the trip from London to Scotland after Admiral Colombage had reportedly issued an order saying personal staff members cannot be allowed to go.
Regardless, the Foreign minister had taken Gamlath with him to Scotland.
According to sources, those who are affiliated to the minister had been saying a staff member should have been allowed at least to carry the minister’s bag after considering his age.
Sources further say that despite Colombage issuing such an order, one of his personal staff members had accompanied him on his recent tour to Moscow. It is said that this is the first time a ministry secretary had taken an assistant to ‘carry his bag’.
The clash had intensified before President Rajapaksa was to address the COP26 climate change summit where only one person was allowed inside with the President.
Colombage had replaced Prof. Peiris’ name with Lalith Weeratunga for that as well.
An enraged Foreign minister had phoned Finance minister – Basil Rajapaksa and told everything, reports say.
“It simply came to our notice then. Sources say that people in the ministry who are close to the Minister are talking about what will happen if someone takes the bag away.
The sources further say that the Admiral who said that the Minister could not take his personal staff had taken a member of his personal staff on a recent visit to Moscow.
It is said that this is the first time that a ministry secretary has taken an assistant to pick up his bag.
The culmination of the conflict between the two came when the President was about to deliver his speech.
Only one person is allowed to enter with the President for the lecture. ⁇
Admiral was also there. L. ‘S name has been cut and Lalith Weeratunga’s name has been added.
G.L. It is reported that he called Basil directly and told him everything from the beginning.