The newly appointed State Ministers will be functioning without any privileges, Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said today.
Minister Ranatunga said that as only 20 Ministers have been appointed under the government it is insufficient to operate all state institutions.
Pointing out as an example the 35 institutions under his purview, the Minister said it is difficult for him alone to handle the affairs of all the institutions.
He pointed out that therefore if a State Minister is appointed then the affairs related to the institutions can be delegated to them.
“This will enable us to improve the state of the institutions under the current circumstances. Hence, new State Ministers were appointed today. The new State Ministers will all work under the salaries entitled to Parliamentarians. Therefore, they will not become a burden to the state,” he explained.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga further said that under the previous government there were a total of 88 Ministers and State Ministers who were all paid the salaries entitled to Ministers.
He said the newly appointed State Ministers will not be provided extra salaries or privileges.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga made the observation while attending a special media briefing in Colombo today. (NewsWire)