Basil likely to enter parliament during cabinet reshuffle - Dissanayake

COLOMBO (News1st): Government lawmaker S.B. Dissanayake has said that ruling party founder Basil Rajapaksa is likely to enter parliament during the next cabinet reshuffle. "He (Basil Rajapaksa) was the economic development minister during the golden era of Sri Lanka’s economy," the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian said Thursday. Rajapaksa, the SLPP founder, currently heads the presidential task force on poverty eradication and economic development and is tipped to enter parliament through the national list. Dissanayake also vrefuted allegations that the government is attempting to crack the whip on media after a circular was issued preventing state advertisements from being given to the media. "It does not categorically declare that advertisements cannot be given to private media outlets," he insisted. The parliamentarian pointed out that the circular was issued to avoid wastage of funds as state institutions are competing to publish advertisements promoting the President and the Prime Minister. Dissanayake also defended the government's moves to hand over 5000 acres of state land to a private company as a pilot project for the cultivation of corn. "Rakna Lanka Company generated huge revenue to the country by becoming the world’s leading company in maritime security," he said pointing out it had offered employment for retired soldiers.