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New corp bosses yet to be named
Most Government Corporations saw their top seats being vacated with the positions yet to be filled, after the new Government took office. A Presidential Secretariat spokesman told The Sunday Times that it was "customary" that the entire board of management of a corporation resigns along with the chairperson not only when a change of Government takes place but also when a new minister takes charge. He said that although it was not laid down by law, top officials resign as in the event of them being dismissed they cannot be re-appointed to such posts.

Although the President appoints heads of corporations, other members are appointed by the relevant minister. Presidential office sources said the appointments are likely to be made within the next week. The recently appointed Chairperson of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Jaliya Medagama told The Sunday Times that the other members of the board are yet to be appointed.

The Sunday Times learns that selection of the new Secretaries to ministries is being done and will be finalised within the next three days. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mrs. Sumithra Rahubadda told The Sunday Times that by Friday evening the Ministry had received the resignation letter of Charlie Mahendran, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

At a press conference on Friday held at former Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando's residence he had stated that the Foreign Ministry had requested many high commissioners and ambassadors to return. In another development, the Sri Lankan Chapter of the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has commenced a "Key Posts Project" to monitor and report on appointments made to key 'high posts' of government and to the diplomatic service.

The TISL said it had identified a definitive need for this action plan, having analysed past acts of successive governments. It also said that there is a common consensus among the general public that both the 17th Amendment and the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts have been made redundant and have failed to meet the desired objectives.

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