Gen. Ratwatte submits resignation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defence Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte resigned his portfolio this afternoon. He submitted his resignation to President Chandrika Kumaratunge. His resignation is yet to be accepted by the Sri Lankan President said sources in the Presidential secretariat this afternoon.

Pressure had mounted on the powerful minister to resign following the bomb blast in Kandy where the Sri Lankan government had planned to hold the country's 50th independence day celebrations.

The minister had taken full responsibility for the security lapse which led to the bomb blast in the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy his letter of resignation.

The venue of the golden jubilee was today changed to Colombo.

Yesterday more than 600 people demonstrated in Colombo and burnt Ratwatte's effigy, demanding his resignation over the Sundays bomb blast in Kandy.

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