3RD LEAD (Update)

NPC members take oath in Jaffna after honouring fallen Tamil Heroes

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 October 2013, 06:57 GMT]
Twenty members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) elected to the Northern Provincial Council took oaths in Jaffna after visiting the memorial site of SJV Chelvanayakam and after observing honour to fallen Tamil Heroes (Maaveerar) and the people perished in the war, at Jaffna Veerasingham Hall Friday 9:00 a.m. EPRLF-leader Suresh Premachandran and five of the six EPRLF's elected members, TELO's M.K.Sivajilingam and an elected TELO member, PLOTE leader Tharmalingam Siththarthan and one elected PLOTE member were absent at the event. Ms Ananthi Sasitharan was present marking her independency between the ITAK and the portfolio-seekers. The ceremonial event took place without any celebrations and the members declined to wear traditional garlands at the function.





After reading a common oath, individual members signed their document in front of TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan and handed their documents to the Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran, who had taken his oath as CM in front of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.

Apart from the religious leaders present at the function, a notable visitor to the event was the Consul General of India Mr V. Mahalaingam.

As the details of portfolios and other roles of elected members were released to the media, it became clear that all the key functions, including the revenue generating areas, have come under the CM's portfolio, political observers in Jaffna said.

Informed sources within the ITAK also said the controversial appointment of Mr Aingaranesan was a decision taken by Mr R. Sampanthan on the request by India.





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