Austin Fernando tipped to take over as Eastern Governor
Wednesday, 21 January 2015 00:50
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Former Defence Secretary and retired civil service officer Austin Fernando is tipped to be Governor of the Eastern Province, Daily FT reliably learns.
Fernando was appointed as a presidential advisor to President Maithripala Sirisena last week. He is likely to remain an advisor while also serving a five-year term as Governor of the Eastern Province, a former conflict zone.
Fernando, who retired as a senior official in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) was Sri Lanka’s Secretary to the Ministry of Defence during the ceasefire under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government from 2002-2004.
The appointment follows the announcement of the appointment of former career diplomat H.M.G.S. Palihakkara as Governor of the Northern Province, replacing retired Major General G.A. Chandrasiri with whom the TNA led provincial council has had running battles.
The Eastern Provincial Council has also had a tense relationship with Mohan Wijewickrema, former Governor of the East and retired Rear Admiral. The appointment of civilian governors with experience in the bureaucracy is seen as an attempt by the new Sirisena administration to reset relationships between the provinces and the central government in regions populated by minority communities and governed by their representatives. (DB)
