UNP-SLMC support EP policy statement

The UNP and SLMC voted in support of the maiden policy statement of Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan as a ‘new culture in politics was needed to work in co-operation’ with the administration to serve the people, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said.

The policy statement of the Chief Minister was passed at the conclusion of the debate with a majority of 24 votes with some UNP and the SLMC members voting with the Council administration.

“We did not want to disrupt the passing of the maiden policy statement of the Chief Minister. We would like to support progressive ideas of the administration and extend conditional support while maintaining our political identity. But at the same time we would strongly differ with the issues that go against our policies and do not serve the people in the east,” Mr. Hakeem said.

Referring to his preliminary objection at the beginning of the first meeting of the council on Wednesday, Mr. Hakeem said he raised the issue as the Council had not been properly established according to Article 154 A of the Constitution.

He said he expected the Chairman of the Council would rectify the error by publishing the relevant gazette notification according to the Constitution.

Meanwhile assembly secretary R. Thiyagalingam said there were 24 votes in support of the policy statement and one against which is of the JVP member. Twelve Council members from the SLFP and the UNP were not present at the time of vote taking.

Referring to the preliminary objection raised by Mr. Hakeem, Mr. Thiyagalingam said Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama would take measures to issue the relevant gazette notification if necessary after consulting the Attorney General.

However, the Council did not discuss the issue raised by Mr. Hakeem nor did the latter raise the issue since then, he said. The Council next meets on July 8.