"Cabinet cannot exceed 30" - Gammanpila

Colombo (News1st): The United People's Freedom Alliance states that the number of the ministerial portfolios cannot be increased without forming a national government. MP Udaya Gammanpila stated that according to section 46 (1) of the constitution the maximum number of ministers can only be 30 including the President and the Prime Minister. He said that there is an attempt to give out ministries to a few from the alliance to indicate that it is not a government that is centered around the TNA and there are only 28 people remaining to do all of it. He also noted that reports stated that the UNP is trying to focus on the Muslim Congress and are holding discussions to join hands with Ali Zahir Moulana to form a national government. Gammanpila made a public request to the President not to allow the UNP to increase the number of cabinet ministers beyond 30. The leader of the SLPP Professor G.L. Peiris stated that there is no possibility to go beyond that maximum limit by signing an agreement with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.