Sri Lanka’s justice minister was sacked on Wednesday after criticising the government’s decision to sell a majority stake in a newly built deep sea port to a state-owned Chinese company.

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was removed by President Maithripala Sirisena at the request of his own party – the United National Party led by Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The minister called the decision to sell 70 per cent of the shares in the loss-making Hambantota port illegal and said he would campaign to reverse the deal signed in July.

The justice minister was also accused of suppressing cases against the former government led by ex-president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in spite public campaigns to expedite cases against them.

“I am denying all the allegations against me. I was only showing the reality that the port deal was illegal and that it needed a two thirds majority in the parliament.

“I would remain in parliament as an ordinary member,” the sacked minister said.