East to get Chief Minister today
Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range
COLOMBO: The Government is due to announce the Chief Minister
of the Eastern province today, Information Minister and Media Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa said.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet briefing yesterday in Colombo, the
Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a discussion yesterday
evening with the parties supporting the UPFA prior to the Provincial
Council poll to be nominated the Chief Minister.
Information and Media
Minister
Anura Priyadarshana Yapa |
The Government has been able to conduct the Eastern election after 20
years aiming to establish the democracy through the restoration of peace
in the East.
"Therefore, the President will appoint the Eastern Chief Minister
according to democratic values in recognition of the facts," the
Minister stressed. Easterners totally rejected Prabhakaran's dream Tamil
homeland concept at the poll and they cast their votes freely to select
representatives according to their wishes.
Whoever becomes Chief Minister, his main interest should be serving
the Eastern people who suffered a lot from the war for many decades, he
noted.
People of the East have given a strong massage by voting to defeat
terrorism. The results of the election have clearly depicted their
desire for living under a democratic set-up after they were liberated
from the LTTE. "We have realised this and will take all possible
measures to ensure democratic values by upholding their economic and
social standards."
The election has also pointed out the strong bonds among Sinhala,
Tamil and Muslim nationalities. "We are committed to further promote
their friendship by enabling them to live freely after the establishment
of the Eastern Provincial Council." Candidates who got preferential
votes from Easterners should be united for serving the peo
ple. "It is their major responsibility and they should work
together." "It is the UNP leader who wanted to create nationalism in the
East with the assistance of Rauf Hakeem. We did not allow any candidate
to promote communalism. But Easterners have clearly defeated them by
giving the highest number of votes for the victory of the UPFA." Media
Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana said the decision on the appointment
of the Chief Minister of the Eastern province will be made by the
President in line with the agreement reached by the parties who worked
for the UPFA victory. Parties who have emerged with the highest number
of seats at the Eastern election should work together without communal
or other differences. "All have to work together under the concept of a
national congress which would be a good answer for the international
community about our interest on Easterners and restoring peace," he
remarked. He pointed out that the Pillayan has come to the democratic
path and he has clearly stated that his main interest is to serve the
Easterners. People in the East commenced enjoying their freedom after
the liberation of the East from LTTE clutches. "We have been able to
consolidate further the fundamental rights of the people by conducting
this election," the Minister added. |