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East to get Chief Minister today

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.

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