NP Governor invites TNA to finalise CM appointment…unprecedented powwow between Maj. Gen. and ex-SC Judge

September 27, 2013, 9:08 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri is expected to meet Northern Province Chief Minister elect, former Supreme Court Judge, C. V. Vigneswaran next week to finalize the latter’s appointment and the appointment of four ministers to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

Vigneswaran led the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) campaign at the first NPC polls since the introduction of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, in accordance with the July 1987 Indo-Lanka accord.

A senior government official told ‘The Island’ that Governor Chandrasiri had invited CM elect Vigneswaran for a meeting after having received a missive from the TNA informing him of their decision on the CM appointment. It was the Governor’s responsibility to invite the CM elect in line with the 13th Amendment, the official said, while explaining the ongoing efforts to finalize the swearing in of Northern Province ministers as quickly as possible.

TNA National List MP M. A. Sumanthiran confirmed the TNA’s decision in writing to the Governor soon after the announcement of NPC result.

Governor Chandrasiri confirmed the exchange of letters and the likelihood of meeting Vigneswaran, though he declined to elaborate.

In the run-up to Saturday’s poll, the TNA as well as the UNP demanded the removal of Governor Chandrasiri. They also accused the former Army Chief of Staff and one-time Jaffna Security Forces Commander, during Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s tenure as the Commander of the Army, of supporting the UPFA at the NPC polls. Allegations followed the Governor appearing on various platforms alongside senior UPFA political figures as well as UPFA candidates.