Wimal Weerawansa’s supporters sidelined Udaya Sri Kariyawasam demoted

Supporters of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Wimal Weerawansa have been sidelined when making appointments to state institutions.

Although appointments to state institutions in 2005 after President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office was made in consultation with Basil Rajapaksa and Willie Gamage, this time around the task had been handed over to a committee headed by young parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge and Additional Presidential Secretary Gamini Senarath   are the other two members of the committee.

In this backdrop, Wimal Weerawansa’s confidante, former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Sri Lanka Insurance, Udaya Sri Kariyawasam has been appointed as the head of the Industrial Development Board.

Kariyawasam has been replaced by Lalith Weeratunge’s wife, Indrani Sugathadasa.

Angered by his removal from a first level states institution and appointment to a third level institution has angered Kariyawasam and he has even refused to assume duties at the Industrial Development Board.