Ravi steps down as FM

Making a special statement in Parliament, Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his ministerial position a short while ago.

The Cabinet Spokeman, Minister Rajitha Senarathne remarked that Minister Ravi Karunanayake will be delivering a special statement in parliament today at 1.30pm.

Minister Senarathne made this remark at the media briefing held to inform Cabinet decisions.

In addition to our news team receiving confirmation of this meeting taking palace from State minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, our correspondents personally witnessed minister Ravi Karunanayake, Rajitha Senaratne and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe enter the premises of the Presidents secretariats office yesterday.

It was noted however that minister Karunanayake was not present at the cabinet meeting that was held at the president’s secretariats office yesterday morning.

Government ministers of the SLFP had met with the President and Premier earlier in the day, and had requested that Minister Ravi Karunanayake be asked to resign or have him removed from the post.

Meanwhile, with regard to the no confidence motion filed against Minister Karunanayake, the date that the debate will take place, is to be decided at the party leaders meeting today.

Ruling party chief convener minister Gayantha Karunathilaka noted that the party leaders meeting will be held at 4 pm today.

The leader of the Joint opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardena says that he hopes to express his views regarding the no confidence motion filed against the  Minister at the meeting today.