Tuesday, 20 January 2015 01:13
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Public official was openly on war-path with NPC Chief Minister WigneswaranBy Dharisha Bastians
Hot on the heels of appointing a civilian as Northern Governor, President Maithripala Sirisena has also transferred the Province’s Chief Secretary, another executive appointment in the Tamil majority region.
Northern Province Chief Secretary, Vijayalakshmi Ramesh - the most senior civil servant in the province - has been transferred, authoritative sources told Daily FT.
Ramesh, who served directly under Northern Governor and former military commander G.A. Chandrasiri, has been on a collision course with Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.
According to the new list of secretaries to ministries assigned yesterday, Vijayalakshmi Ramesh has been transferred as Secretary to the State Ministry of Plantation Industries.
Last year, the official filed a fundamental rights case against the Chief Minister that was upheld by the Supreme Court, claiming Wigneswaran was trying to transfer her from her post and interfering with her duties.
Since assuming office in October 2013, the Northern Provincial Council has consistently complained about the allegiances of the bureaucracy being to Governor Chandrasiri. The Chief Minister has complained that bureaucracy headed by Vijayalakshmi was hampering the council’s work.
