Newly Sports Minister resigns after two-day tenure

The unfolding political crisis in Sri Lanka, which the President ChandrikaKumaratunga Bandaranaike is trying to circumvent with the formation of adelicate coalition government, has forced the resignation of thenewly-appointed Sports Minister after

CricInfo17-Sep-2001The unfolding political crisis in Sri Lanka, which the President ChandrikaKumaratunga Bandaranaike is trying to circumvent with the formation of adelicate coalition government, has forced the resignation of thenewly-appointed Sports Minister after just two days in office.Mangala Samaraweera, former Minister for Urban Development, had replacedLaksmann Kiriella and been sworn into office on Friday. On Saturday he hadpromised a crackdown on corruption in sports administration, but he thenresigned on Sunday night.His unexpected decision is believed to have been made after a personalrequest by the President, who has been forced to reduce the number of fulltime ministers to 20 by her left-wing coalition partners. No replacement hasbeen selected, meaning that the President herself will take over the covetedpost. Samaraweera will become the deputy.