Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunge to leave for New York with the government tomorrow
2010-09-16
Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunge is to leave for New York to attend the 65th General Assembly of the UN with the government delegation tomorrow (17) a senior government minister told Lanka News Web.He said that Amaratunge had close links with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and that he was even planning on supporting the 18th Amendment to the Constitution last week in parliament, but decided not to join the government when the President had informed him that he could not be given the ministerial portfolio he had requested.Amaratunge had requested for either the Power and Energy Ministry or the Airport and Aviation Ministry to join
the government. The President has now agreed to give another key ministerial portfolio to Amaratunge instead of the ones requested by him.The minister further said that another active opposition politician had requested for the Deputy Ministerial portfolio for Defence to support the 18th Amendment and had later changed his mind after the President had turned down the request.Amaratunge was provided with special security yesterday and the UNP board that was put up outside his residence was removed in the morning.An official in Amaratunge’s staff when inquired said that although he was attending the UN General Assembly on the invitation of the President, he had no intention of leaving the UNP or the post of Chief Opposition Whip.
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