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| Hakeem |
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem today slammed the appointment of military Governors to the Northern and Eastern provinces. Speaking at an event in Yatinuwara in the Kandy District today, Hakeem said he fails to understand why retired military officers have been appointed as Governors to the North and East while in the South the Governors are civil officials.
“What I feel is happening is that while on one hand we allow the minorities to enjoy their powers in the provinces on the other hand we are taking that away,” he said.
Hakeem noted that having former military officers as Governors in the North and East has led to clashes with the respective Chief Ministers while in the South there is no such issue.
The Northern Province Governor is Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri while the Eastern Province Governor is Rear Admiral (Retd.) Mohan Wijewickrama.
Hakeem, meanwhile also noted that he will express his views from within the Cabinet if and when he has an issue instead of boycotting Cabinet proceedings.
“I say what I must say. I was the first to object to moves to reduce the powers in the 13th Amendment to the constitution,” he said.
Hakeem seemed to be hinting at reports that Minister Wimal Weerawansa had boycotted Cabinet proceedings over a dispute with the Government. (Colombo Gazette)
