Author: TELO Admin

The President’s Office has directed four provincial governors to step down following complaints received by parliamentarians representing the provinces.

Accordingly, the decision has been conveyed to Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath, North Western Province Governor Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil and Sabaragamuwa Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa.

New governors will be named soon after President Ranil Wickremesinghe returns to the country after attending the coronation of Britain’s new King Charles III in London yesterday.

Eastern province Governor Yahampath told the Sunday Times she had been informed by the President’s Office not to go ahead with a development plan under the brother province concept with Yunnan Province in China.

She said she was not aware whether this was the reason why she was called upon to quit.

The Governor of the Yunnan province was due to meet Ms. Yahampath next week.

Mr. Muzammil told the Sunday Times he was ready to step down from the post, as he had been officially informed of the decision.

The Sunday Times learns that decision to request the governors to step down had been based on parliamentarians’ complaints about the governors’ unwillingness to work with them in the provinces.

Srisaba’s 37th Remembrance Day – 06/05/2023

We’ll NEVER FORGET THE FORGOTTEN Two hundred of our fellow members were killed or wounded we will never, ever forget them or the sacrifices they made.

TAMILS DAY OF CONFLUENCE

“Tamil National Unity Week- (29 April- 06 May)”

An attempt by the police to disrupt a protest in Kankesanthurai in the north against alleged land grabbing, by preventing supplies to Tamil protestors, has been thwarted.

A three day agitation began on May 03 against a temple newly-constructed by the Army in Walikamam North.

Protestors charged private land had been acquired without the permission of the area’s land officer to construct Tissa Vihara.

Five protestors arrested by the police have been released on bail.

Mallakam magistrate Gayatri Selavan visited the place said people had a right to protest.

The Army said the pinnacle of the Stupa at the temple was placed on April 27.

It added that the temple dates back to third century BC and was built by King Devanampiyatissa.

However, protestors say 6.2 acres of land belonging to 14 Tamil families had been acquired by force to build the temple.

On the first day of the protest, police and the protestors were involved in a heated exchange of words, after which the police barricaded the area and prevented water, food and medicines from reaching them. On the following day, the Human Rights Commission intervened and the supplies resumed.

Tamil MPs Mavai Senadhiraja, Sivagnanam Sridharan, Dharmalingam Siddarthan, M.A. Sumanthiran and Angajan Ramanathan visited the protestors and extended their support.

Sumanthiran said the Thelippalai regional development committee decided in 2021 not to permit the temple’s construction and the divisional secretary too, has not given the permission.

Claiming that nothing progressive has taken place with regard to the issues faced by the Tamil community and estate workers under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Parliamentarian and Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan said that the former should “walk the talk” concerning the same.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ganesan said that the President has been making various statements from time to time that he would take steps to resolve the issues faced by the Tamil community and estate workers. “Wickremesinghe has been talking a lot to local and foreign media about this matter. He even said that he would resolve the Tamil national issue by Independence Day (4 February). Nothing progressive has been done. So, I tell him to walk the talk without merely making statements.” He also said that the Wickremesinghe led Government had not paid attention to the issues faced by the estate workers, particularly in the upcountry areas. “There are many underprivileged and undernourished families among the estate workers. Various surveys have proven it. We have requested the Government to ensure that such families are included in the social security beneficiaries’ lists, but it is not happening. This is very unfortunate. Can the Government not understand that there is no way for them to survive?,” he queried.

President Wickremesinghe had been pledging to resolve the issues faced by the Tamil community, particularly in the North and the East, and the estate sector workers. The frequent issues that they face include the detention of certain individuals under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, the occupation of their lands by the military forces and the non-implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The President also had several rounds of discussions with Tamil MPs regarding the resolution of such issues.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently attending the Commonwealth Leaders Meeting being held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, United Kingdom (UK).

Wickremesinghe also met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in London, to discuss potential areas of cooperation on agriculture and healthcare between the two nations, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

Accordingly, they proposed an exchange of visits by the relevant ministers and discussed military cooperation , while President Wickremesinghe also offered training for rapid response to natural disasters.

The Head of State left for the UK last morning (04 May), in order to attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles III, which is due to be held tomorrow (06 May) at the Westminster Abbey.

Thus, taking advantage of the gathering of the Presidents and Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries who are currently in London for the ceremonial event, a Commonwealth Summit was held by the Commonwealth Secretariat today.