Only invited Indian PM to visit the North, not CHOGM - Wigneswaran

 Saturday, 02 November 2013 

Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, who has come under fire for inviting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit the North, has denied that he had written to Singh urging him to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in a few weeks.

Issuing a statement, the Chief Minister’s private secretary A. Suntharalingam has said: “I write on the direction of Justice C V Wigneswaran, Chief Minister, Northern Provincial Council. He wants me to inform you that the personal letter of thanks sent by him to the Prime Minister of India had nothing to do with CHOGM. He had no doubt invited the Honourable Prime Minister whenever he visits Sri Lanka, to visit Jaffna. Nowhere has the CHOGM been mentioned in the letter.”

“It (the letter) was sent soon after the first sitting of the Members of the Provincial Council took place. It was common courtesy to thank those who helped you and to invite them to your area of influence. It was unfortunate that reference was made with statements made by Hon Kurshid in this regard.”

The TNA has said it would boycott the CHOGM, but Wigneswaran has opposed the party’s decision.