JVP frowns on CM appointment

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The JVP yesterday claimed that government’s method of appointing the Chief Minister and ministers to the Eastern Province would fuel racism and be an impediment to national reconciliation.

Addressing a media conference at the party head office, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government had spread Sinhala racism and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress had spread Muslim racism to obtain votes in the province.

But now, the SLMC had joined the government to form a provincial administration and consolidate their  power in the East, he said.

Dissanayake said that the people had voted separately for the government and the SLMC but now the people’s verdict had been mixed.

"The Eastern people did not vote for the ruling coalition," Dissanayake said, adding that the Rajapaksa government had employed the same method to obtain a two-third majority in Parliament.

The government had to offer two ministerial portfolios to the SLMC and two to the UPFA. Athaulla’s and Hisbullah’s teams did not receive any ministerial portfolios, Dissanayake said.

The JVP heavyweight said that government had had to offer a Presidential Advisor post to the former Chief Minister to prevent a crisis.

He said that the Eastern Province was made up of 40 per cent Sinhalese, 37 per cent Tamils and 21 percent Muslims but the government missed the chance to reconcile all ethnic groups in the province.