TNA objects to CEB Office relocation

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 October 2002, 08:22 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has protested to the government proposal of shifting the eastern regional office of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) from Trincomalee in the northeast province to Anuradhapura in the North-western province.

"Negotiations are in progress for giving substantial autonomy to the northeast region. The implementation of any proposal which runs counter to this imminent change in the administrative framework would be harmful," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Trincomalee district TNA parliamentarian in a letter to the Minister of Power and Energy Mr.Karu Jayasuriya.

Mr.Sampanthan added, "there is presently a Deputy General Manager of the CEB in charge of the eastern region stationed at Trincomalee. Since the office of the Governor, and Chief Secretary of northeast province and the offices of all other provincial ministries are situated in Trincomalee this is most efficient and convenient arrangement."

Mr.Sampanthan reminded the Minister of Power and Energy that the government has decided to divide the country into five economic zones. "Even under the said proposal the northeast province is demarked as a single economic zone. The said proposal to attach Trincomalee CEB eastern regional office to Anuradhapura in the northwestern province will run counter even to the proposed economic zone," said Mr.Sampanthan in his letter.

"It is imperative that the proposal to attach the eastern regional office of the CEB to Anuradhapura in the northwestern region be shelved," stressed Mr.Sampanthan in the letter.

"In all circumstances, this proposal should not be rushed and I lodge my very firm objection," said Mr.Sampanthan in his letter.