Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had not turned up at the United National Party (UNP) Parliamentary group meeting yesterday, and the Premier had said Rajapakshe’s ‘grace period’ was over and promised a decision ‘today or tomorrow’, Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage Minister Ranjan Ramanayake told reporters.

 Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a special meeting of the United National Party (UNP) Parliamentary group at the Temple Trees yesterday, the Minister said, “He was given time until Monday (21). Today is Monday. His time is up, the Prime Minister said he will meet with him and come to a decision today or tomorrow.”

“We have nothing personal against the Minister,” Minister Ramanayake continued, “ And we have no problem with him staying on as Buddhasasana Minister – but we do have a problem with him holding the portfolio of Justice Minister because as a lawyer he is protecting those close to him.

Minister Ramanayake said the Justice and Buddhasasana Minister was protecting his ‘clients’ – “Avant Garde’s Nissanka Senadhipathi, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa – these are his clients, and there is no progress with those cases because he is protecting his clients, so we have lost faith in him,” the Minister explained.