Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran today reached an understanding with Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) over recent controversy of corruption probe against two ministers by allowing them to hold offices. Earlier he demanded that two ministers who are holding Health and Transport portfolios should be sent on one month compulsory leave until the probe concluded.
After a probe into the conduct of four ministers of the Northern Province, two who were allegedly found guilty for abuse of power and misuse of funds were told to resign from their portfolios and two others who were found not guilty were told to go on leave for a month.
The new move came in exchange of letters between him and leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) R. Sampanthan whose party hold rules majority in the council.
“I understand your inability to give guarantees with regard to the conduct of the two Ministers. But I am glad you have undertaken to advise them that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry. It is to ensure the independent legal inquiry and to commit the two Ministers that I designed the formula of taking leave for one month.” the Chief Minister noted in his letter to ITAK leader R.Samapnathan.
Chief Minister Wigneswaran noted that there was no punitive action taken against the two Ministers concerned and they are
entitled to draw their salary and use their vehicles etc. "It is in order to give protection to the Witnesses that it was said that they should take leave while the Inquiring Committee sat. There are new charges too against them,"
“ You are a Senior Member of the ITAK. You are the leader of the TNA. You have undertaken to advise the two Ministers not to impede an independent legal inquiry. The two Religious Dignitaries have insisted that the two Ministers must co-operate by not interfering with the course of justice. Added to these Hon’ Selvam Adaikalanathan, Hon’ Dharmalingam Sidharthan and Hon’ Suresh Premachandran have also undertaken last night in the best interests of the Tamils to speak to the Hon’ Ministers, to make sure they will not interfere with the course of justice nor interfere with nor threaten witnesses nor tamper with evidence etc. In the light of these undertakings, I will not insist on the conditions relating to leave.” the letter said.
Mr. Ali Sabri Rahim, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Puttalam District whom an open warrant had been issued, attended a public ceremony at Al Aksha National School in Kalpitiya today (16) as the special guest of honor.
All Ceylon Makkal Congress MP Ali Sabri Raheem had been arrested by Kalpitiya police after he surrendered to the police today morning.
Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena has been sent on compulsory leave pending disciplinary investigation over his failure to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings.
The 22nd amendment to the constitution dealing with the term of the President has been gazetted by order of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Auspicious times widely followed by candidates keeping with traditions will be taken into consideration by the Election Commission in fixing the date and time for the conduct on the Presidential polls.
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted policy approval to change the wording “exceeding six years” in paragraph (b) of Article 83 of the Constitution to “exceeding five years” with reference to the President’s tenure.
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