CBK Proposes Harry J For Top Government Posts : Ranil Shoots Down

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has proposed business tycoon Harry Jayawardena's name for at least five top government position.

Each time, the proposal has been personally shot down by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has already adopted an anti Harry Jayawardena policy. Wickremesinghe is of the firm belief that the controversial business tycoon should be kept out of the businesses of the new government.

Harry J was often dubbed as CBK's chief financier when the former President was in power. Under CBK's rule, the business tycoon went past all the billionaires in the country in terms of wealth, becoming the richest man in Sri Lanka.

However, during President Rajapaksa's rule, Harry J had to take a back seat as there were a few other businessman who were vying for the 'richest man' title. One has every reason to believe that the old guard business tycoon is waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables on the new self-made billionaires who operated under the blessings of the top echelons of the former government.

In Wickremesinghe's case, he has already made a decision decision to leave certain people out of the picture when it comes to day to day affairs of the government and Harry is certainly one of them. Apart from him, the controversial four "Pereras" too, who wreaked havoc under the previous regime, have already been blacklisted by the Prime Minister.

It is incorrect to say PM's inclination to leave the business tycoon out of the picture has become a potential flashpoint between CBK and Wickremesinghe. But, one should be mindful of the fact that the former President is not someone who accepts 'defeat' that easily!