SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam
It is wrong for them to criticise the Government before the masses while taking part in Cabinet meetings where crucial decisions are made. They must talk about ways to improve the situation in the country within the Cabinet as responsible Cabinet Ministers. It is a bad precedent to say things to satisfy the gallery and in that sense I believe removing them from the Cabinet was the right thing to do.
SJB General Secretary
This will be the beginning of the end. History teaches us many lessons, where Governments have collapsed due to such arbitrary action to strip the ministers of their portfolios. This is similar to N.M.Perera and Colvin R. De Silva’s leaving the Government in 1975, Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissnayake’s departure in 1993, and S.B.Dissanayke’s defection in 2002.
Wimal and Gammanpila’s defection will be the first crack in the Government structure.
JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath
The huge economic crisis in the country has turned into a political crisis. Within a short period all ministers in the Government will have to run away in the same manner, unable to face the people of this country. Wimal and Gammanpilas’ departure or inclusion will not make any difference to the economic crisis. Removal of ministers will not provide any solutions to people who are queuing up for essential goods.