2nd lead:

Sri Lanka's President sacks Ministers of Defense, Interior and Media

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 November 2003, 08:32 GMT]
The Presidential Secretariat Tuesday in a press release said that the President, Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge, has removed Mr.Tilak Marapone, Mr.John Amaratunga and Mr.Imtiaz Bakeer Markar from their posts as Minister of defense, interior and media respectively.

The press release further states that President has removed the ministers concerned from according to the powers vested with her under the Constitution.

The President has informed the removal to the ministers concerned by letter individually. Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge has said in the letters she has taken this decision in the interests of the country, the press release added.

The reasons for the removal of these ministers would be revealed to the people shortly, the release said.

Meanwhile, the President has also removed the permanent secretaries of the ministries of defense, interior and media, Colombo sources said.

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