Weerawansa resigns ministry portfolio, continues fast against UN

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2010, 10:19 GMT]
Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and currently an ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Friday resigned from the post of Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Colombo media reported quoting his ministry spokesman. However Lalith Weeratunge, the Secretary to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse told media that he has not received the resignation letter yet.

There were no reasons given for the resignation. But it is said that the NFF is scheduled to hold a media briefing outlining the reasons for his resignation.

The Rajapaksa Government has come under mounting pressure since the hunger strike which began on Thursday is being led by a Cabinet Minister to protest over the setting up of an international panel to advise the UN Chief Ban ki Moon on alleged war crimes during the final stages of fighting between the Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

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