A Gazette notification has been issued announcing the Ministerial Portfolio of Environment being brought under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President has taken over the Ministerial Portfolio following the disqualification of Naseer Ahamed as a member of parliament due to his expulsion from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).
In April 2022, the SLMC made the decision to expel Naseer Ahamed from the party after he changed his political affiliation and was subsequently sworn in as the Environment Minister in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led Government.
The Supreme Court recently determined that the expulsion of Naseer Ahamed from the SLMC was lawful.
Thereafter, the Elections Commission reportedly received a notice from the Secretary General of Parliament indicating that MP Naseer Ahamed’s seat had become vacant.
The Election Commission also announced that SLMC member Ali Zahir Moulana has been declared an elected Member of Parliament for the Batticaloa District, filling the Parliament seat vacated by Naseer Ahamed.
Following the disqualification of Naseer Ahamed, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken over his portfolio as Minister of Environment.
Gazette: http://documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2023/10/2353-56_E.pdf (NewsWire)