COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's president has fired the justice minister for his criticism of the government, including a decision to sell a majority the shares of a sea port to China. President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday approved a request made by his United National Party to dismiss Wijeyadasa Rajapakse. The party accused Rajapakse of breaching the collective responsibility of the cabinet of ministers by criticising the port deal, other government policies and some of his colleagues. The Sri Lankan government last month signed a long-delayed agreement to sell a 70% stake in a US$1.5 billion port to China, to help it recover from the heavy burden of repaying a Chinese loan obtained to build the facility.

Source: Bangkok Post August 23, 2017 09:56 UTC