Several top officials of the PMU have become close to president Sirisena after singing hosannas for the previous Rajapaksa regime, say the Citizens’ Power and the National Movement for a Just Society.

These officials are deceitfully at work to harm the incumbent’s image, instead of promoting him, the two organizations told the president on January 04.

They were especially critical of Gamini Sumanasekara, Lalith de Silva and Chamuditha Samarawickrama.

The president had asked the two organizations to name suitable persons to replace them, and they had nominated senior journalists Dr. Ranga Kalansuriya, Jayatilake de Silva and Ravi Ratnavel for the positions.

The Presidential Secretariat has asked them to assume duties on March 01, but they had been appointed under the three previously mentioned officials, who continue to be in service.

In protest, the two organizations have told the president that their appointees would not accept the positions.

However, Ratnavel, a nominee of the National Movement for a Just Society convener Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya, agreed to accept the position.

Both Kalansuriya and Silva were nominated by Citizens’ Power.