Senior Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on Wednesday said in Parliament that the number of Cabinet Ministers had to be increased because the JVP did not join the ruling coalition. The minister made this statement during debate with the JVP that criticized the Government for spending a huge amount of public funds on renting vehicles and providing other facilities for ministers.

“We were compelled to increase the numbers of ministers as the JVP did not join the Government,” Minister Fernandopulle said.

At this stage, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa wanted to know whether the Government would reduce the number of ministers to 30 if the JVP made the request now.

He accused the Government of accommodating a section of UNP members while its talks with the JVP was in progress.

He said Minister Susil Premajayantha also declined to discuss with the JVP the issue of reducing the Cabinet saying it was a matter lying solely with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Fernandopulle said that although the JVP helped the government to be elected but it did not support it to run the state affairs.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe also joined the cross talk saying the Government told the UNP that it was difficult to work with the JVP, and therefore it was seeking UNP support.

“During the process of our negotiations to work out an MoU between the two parties, an 18-member group of the UNP crossed over to the Government,” Mr. Wickremesinghe added.

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