Some UNP frontliners are of the view that a disciplinary inquiry should be initiated against former Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as he had breached the collective responsibility of the Cabinet and the party.
“Definitely, the party hierarchy will conduct a disciplinary inquiry on the controversial statements made by Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. We will also ask the party to take disciplinary action against him,” State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
“We also have struggled within the party, but we have never dealt with other sides. We have been with the party and the system. That is the difference between him and us,” he said.
Minister Senasinghe said former Justice Minister Rajapakshe resorted to a completely wrong move starting to criticize the Government. All of a sudden, he changed his stance. Earlier, he was highly critical of the Rajapaksas and their false nationalism. But all of a sudden, he changed his stance and started to talk nonsense. I don’t know why he resorted to making such irresponsible remarks because he is a sensible person.”
Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga told the Sunday Observer that the decision taken by the party hierarchy to sack Rajapakshe is justifiable as he has violated the collective responsibility of the Cabinet. A member of the Cabinet who subscribes to those decisions cannot come back and criticize them later.
The Minister said that removing Rajapakshe from his portfolio would not have any impact on the core ideals of the Yahapalana Government.
Asked whether a disciplinary inquiry will be conducted on former Minister Rajapakshe, Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera told the Sunday Observer that the UNP Working Committee should decide on that. It is entirely up to the party hierarchy to make an official decision. So far the UNP Working Committee has not taken a final decision on that.