Govt. undecided on Chief Whip appointment

The Government is yet to decide over the appointment of the Chief Government Whip, a vacancy created following the assassination of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle a month ago.

Minister John Seneviratne said that tomorrow the Government group would be discussing regarding the appointment of the new Government Whip, but Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said it will take longer.

“The final decision should be made by the President, but most of the MPs in the Government are presently discussing on who should be appointed,” Mr Seneviratne said. Minister de Silva said that appointing the Chief Government Whip would be decided after the PC elections on April 10.

“We have no hurry to appoint a Government Whip at the moment as we are focusing on winning the upcoming elections,” he said. Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that Parliament sessions could be carried even without the appointment of a Chief Government Whip.

Meanwhile Government sources said that most of the Government MPs are presently having discussions regarding the issue of appointing a new Govt. Whip tomorrow but it has not been confirmed.