The Election Secretariat (ES) yesterday (13) said the appointment of new secretaries to several cabinet ministries during the pre-election period was not illegal. As the cabinet ministries were not under the purview of the ES during the pre-election period of the country, the appointment or changing of secretaries to such ministries could take place, Director General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told The Morning. “Such incidents have occurred during previous elections as well,” he said. According to him, there were practical issues pertaining to the changing or appointing of secretaries to cabinet ministries, as if one retired during the pre-election period, that vacant position could be filled. In addition to the appointment of a new secretary to the Ministry of Health, secretary positions in several ministries have been changed. By Maheesha Mudugamuwa