New Committee to select heads of SoE

• President’s Secy. to chair Committee 

Noting that the Government has put emphasis on appointing experienced and qualified professionals as Chairpersons and Director Board Members to accomplish the objectives and goals of Statutory Boards, Spokesperson for the Cabinet appointed by President Sirisena Mahinda Samarasinghe said President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Committee to make recommendations for high level appointments in Government institutions. 

The Cabinet and Prime Minister appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena, following his decision to fire sitting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from his post, has been disputed in Parliament, with two No-Confidence Motions passed against both. 

However, Samarasinghe maintained that the appointments were legal, and would continue to function as a Government. 

Chaired by Secretary to the President Udaya Seneviratne, the Committee will have four members, including Senior Advisor to the President W J Karunaratne, two nominees from Sirisena-appointed Prime Minister MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, and a representative nominated by the Ministry of Finance, Samarasinghe said.  

The President has also recommended that appointments should be made based on the criteria approved earlier by the Cabinet of Ministers, enabling respective Ministers to appoint degree holders of Sri Lankan or recognised foreign universities, or persons possessed of recognised professional qualifications, along with long professional experience in their respective fields, excluding the Ex-Officio of said Director Boards, Samarasinghe said.