Decision to shun EP CM Ahamed countermanded Sampur incident: 

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 30, 2016, 8:47 pm

The government has countermanded a decision taken by armed forces to boycott public events attended by Eastern Province Chief Minister Z.A. Nazeer Ahamed over an incident involving him and Captain I.R. Premaratne of Sri Lanka Navy at Sampur Maha Vidyalayam on May 20.

Alleging that CM Ahamed had humiliated Captain Premaratne, Commanding Officer of SLN base at Sampur, the Defence Ministry late last week announced an unprecedented decision to shun SLMC politician.

The SLMC is a constituent of the UNP-led coalition. Ahamed heads EP Provincial Administration comprising the UNP, SLFP, TNA as well as the SLMC.

CM Ahamed told The Island last night that he appreciated the government intervention. Ahamed said that he deeply regretted the incident though the military response couldn’t be accepted.

The government has also revoked decision taken by the military to prevent CM Ahamed from entering security forces establishments.

In a May 27 letter to President Maitripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, CM Ahamed strongly condemned the decision taken by the security forces to boycott events attended by him.

The government issued fresh instructions in respect of the Defence Ministry’s intervention following consultations between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Well informed sources told The Island that the government felt the Sampur incident couldn’t be allowed to jeopardise what ministerial sources described as vital political arrangement in the East.