The Gazette notification issued by President Maithripala Sirisena, which places the National Lotteries Board under the purview of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in violation of the law, Transparency International Sri Lanka has said.

During the recent Cabinet reshuffle, the President gave the Finance Ministry that was under Ravi Karunanayake to the Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and gave the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Finance Minister.

Thereafter, while Gazzeting the departments that come under the respective ministries, in accordance to Article 43 of the Constitution, the President listed the National Lotteries Board and the Development Lotteries Board under the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

However Transparency International says that the National Lotteries Board was created by the Finance Act of 1963, under which is stipulated it comes under Minister ‘to whom the subject of Finance has been assigned'.

Therefore, Transparency International says, in Gazetting the National Lotteries Board and the Development Lotteries Board under the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake, the government has acted in contravention of the law.