EPC Chief Minister, ministers demand removal of Governor

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 2009, 06:37 GMT]
The wrangling between the elected administration of the Eastern Provincial Council and the Provincial Governor is reported to have reached its climax with Chief Minister Mr. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and four other provincial ministers reportedly sending a petition to President Mahinda Rajapakse demanding the removal of Governor Mohan Wijewickrema and replacing him with a person supportive of power devolution, according to reports in Colombo media Monday.

They also said in the letter to the President that the incumbent Governor who does not support power devolution has been meddling with the affairs of the council, wilfully ignoring the elected members.

Political sources in Colombo said this is the first time since the introduction of provincial council system in the country, a chief minister and ministers of a provincial council have demanded the removal of a governor.