Ravi displeased about Finance Minister portfolio being bestowed on Mangala!

Ravi displeased about Finance Minister portfolio being bestowed on Mangala!

The Prime Minister who summoned Cabinet members of the UNP last night to Temple Trees for a discussion in respect of transferring the position of Finance Minister to Mangala at the Cabinet reshuffle scheduled to be held this morning informed that according to the Cabinet reshuffle expected to take place on Monday morning said that the ministerial post of Finance would undergo a change and that Mr. Mangala Samaraweera is supposed to be bestowed with the portfolio of Finance

and Mass Communication and that his post of Foreign Affairs would instead be handed over to Ravi Karunanayaka.

On that occasion Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayaka was not immediately pleased with that decision, political sources say. "What will happen to things that I have planned all these days ... the other thing is, what can I do with a position of Minister of Foreign Affairs?" he had grieved. On that occasion the Prime Minister had explained matters to him. The reply the Prime Minister had given at that moment to console him was that if he is dreaming about becoming a leader of the country, it is important to get to know foreign leaders. After explaining these matters Ravi has settled down and calmed down as well, it was reported. Political sources reveal that whether bestowing the portfolio of Finance Minister and Mass Communication was carried out on the advice of former President Chandrika Cumaranatunga to Ranil and Maithree. Mangala was a staunch stalwart of Chandrika's regime holding the position of Mass Communication too before this.

Because Mangala Samaraweera has been transferred the Mass Communication aspect from Gayantha Karunatilleka, he has been given the Ministry of Lands.