New Minister admits the jumbo cabinet is a burden to the country

National Organiser of the Buddhist-monk led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Patali Champika Ranawaka, says the monks felt their position in the society may be jeopardised had they accepted ministerial portfolios.

"It is not that monks are not suitable: They themselves did not like it," he told BBC Sandeshaya.

MPs but not ministers

Speaking after the ceremony, he said monks can act as parliamentarians but it may be difficult for them to play there dual role as prelates and members of the executive.

Ranawaka sworn in as the minister in-charge of Environment and Natural Resources before President Rajapaksa on Thursday.

Minister Ranawaka says monks refused to accept portfolios as it may jeopardise their dual role as prelates and members of the executive

He is the 53 member of parliament to be sworn in as a Cabinet Minister.

JHU's General Secretary, Omalpe Sobhitha thero, resigned from his seat in the parliament paving the way for Ranawaka to join the Cabinet.

Jumbo cabinet

The new minister said the party felt the need to support the government in its fight against terrorism.

The pro-LTTE lobby was trying to create a crisis in the south in order to divert their attention from the military defeats, he told bbcsinhala.com.

It is not that monks are not suitable: They themselves did not like it   Environment minister Champika Ranawaka

He admitted that having 54 ministers in a cabinet is a huge burden to the country but the government did not have any other option than going for a snap election.

The ultra-nationalist Buddhist monks' party aligned itself with the government of on Wednesday.

JHU's alignment of the with the administration of President Rajapakse increased the president's majority in parliament from just one seat to nine.

The monks' party is opposed to moves to end fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels and a return to peace talks.