President abolishes Cabinet Committee on Economic Management

President Maithripala Sirisena had abolished the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management and instructed that all decision be taken by the Cabinet of Ministers so that the all members of the Government could work in unison.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne made this assertion yesterday (28 March) during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing.

“The President questioned as to why the Government could not work together. He asked the Prime Minister to quickly initiate measures to ensure that the Cabinet of Ministers functioned in a collective and speedy manner benefiting the country,” he said, refuting rumours of a tiff between the President and Prime Minister at the Cabinet meeting. 

Earlier last week, following a request by the President to do away with the CCEM, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested two weeks to reconsider the composition of the CCEM. 

However, during this week’s meeting of the Cabinet, the President had pointed out that the Government must act and work together as one team and that the CCEM could not be continued as it delayed the implementation of development projects.

“The President pointed out that the CCEM reviewing every development project caused delays, and that it was better that his National Economic Council (NEC) and the Cabinet take such decisions to expedite the process. Instead, the President had directed that for any subject that needed special review, a Cabinet subcommittee under the Prime Minister could evaluate and take decisions,” Minister Senaratne said.

(SG)