Appointed Governor decides market's fate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 04:33 GMT]
The new governor's decision regarding the opening of the Trincomalee New market shall be in accordance with the practising regulations of the Trincomalee Town Council. This information was sent by Mr. P.Sooriyamurthy, chairman of the Council, in a letter he sent yesterday to Alawi Maulana, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils.

He said the new governor, retired Lt. Gen. Asoka Jeyawardena, will not put forward any conditions to the council regarding this issue.

Trincomalee Co-ordinating Officer, Maj. Gen. G.S.C. Fonseka, informed the council chairman that the new market could be opened only after the old market building, which is predominantly used by the Sinhalese, is repaired.

Mr. Sooriyamurthy said that he expected the new governor, a former army officer, will be able to solve the market issue. The matter had been held closed for nearly a year, on orders by the Sri Lankan Army.

He said that he will meet the new Governor tomorrow, (November 26), to hold discussions regarding the opening of the new market, that was built at a cost of 60,00,000 rupees.

Meanwhile areas surrounding the residence of the new governor will be searched by Sri Lankan Government forces. The residence is in Uvarmalai, a Tamil dominated area of Trincomalee.