da fazobetai： 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.