Cohabitation begins with Wiggie-Chandrasiri pow-wow

Tuesday, 1 October 2013 00:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Northern Governor to issue letter appointing Northern Chief Minister today
Assembly Hall secured for Northern PC in Kaittady
Inaugural NPC session likely after 15 October
Arrangements being made for new Council: Governor
Final decision on TNA provincial ministers after 2 Oct meeting in Colombo

By Dharisha Bastians Northern Province Chief Minister Elect C.V. Wigneswaran and Provincial Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri met in Jaffna yesterday, setting the stage for political cohabitation between the new council and the central Government after the Tamil National Alliance swept the provincial polls on 21 September. The Governor would issue a letter appointing Justice Wigneswaran as Northern Chief Minister today, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily FT last evening. “Thereafter the Chief Minister will advise him with regard to other ministers and the Governor will then appoint them,” the TNA Parliamentarian explained. During an acrimonious election battle, the TNA repeatedly called for the removal of the Province’s military Governor and accused him of campaigning on behalf of the ruling coalition that was also contesting the polls. The Tamil party has requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to swear in its Chief Minister designate in Jaffna, presumably to avoid Justice Wigneswaran from having to take oaths before Governor Chandrasiri. But during a meeting that reports said had been civil at the Governor’s Office last morning, Justice Wigneswaran and the TNA delegation discussed modalities with the Governor on how to proceed with the constitution of the newly elected Council, Sumanthiran said. Speaking to Daily FT, Governor Chandrasiri said his office was in the process of putting arrangements in place following discussions with the TNA delegation yesterday. “We are getting things organised for them to meet,” the Governor said. TNA MP Sumanthiran said the inaugural session of the newly elected Northern Provincial Council was also discussed during the meeting. He added that an Assembly Hall at Kaittady in Jaffna was being prepared for the Council to assemble. “The hall will be ready by 12 October, and it is likely that the first meeting of the Northern Provincial Council will be held after 15 October,”

Sumanthiran said. The TNA is still in the process of finalising the appointments of provincial ministers which the MP said would happen when the party meets in Colombo on 2 October. “The board of ministers will be appointed on a balance of districts, constituent parties within the alliance and other factors,” Sumanthiran noted.