Former Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to place the National Film Corporation and the Government Press under the Lands Ministry.

Karunathilake was appointed the Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms at the Cabinet reshuffle on Monday.

The former Media Minister's strange request to place the National Film Corporation and the Government Press under the Lands Ministry has raised many an eyebrow in the political circles.

"This is a strange demand. The Lands Ministry has no connection whatsoever with the Film Corporation and the Government Press. No one will be justify such allocations," a senior Cabinet Minister said, on Tuesday.

As a result of these demands, the gazette notification relating to the allocation of state institutions has been delayed.

President Sirisena's advisers have informed the him that such unprecedented allocations will make a mockery of the reshuffle.