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Wigneswaran slams Government at event attended by PM

15 Jan, 2016

Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran today slammed the Government at event attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking at the National Thaipongal festival in Jaffna also attended by UK State Minister Hugo Swire, the Northern Chief Minister said that while the Tamils in the North recognize the change following the elections last year, they still live in fear and suspicion.

He slammed the presence of a large number of soldiers in the North, the failure to free more land held by the military and the failure to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The Chief Minister claimed that over 150,000 soldiers still operate in the North and that this lays the foundation for violence.

Wigneswaran also accused the Government of interfering in the work of the Northern Provincial Council.

The?Chief Minister also raised his concerns over letters being sent to him from State institutions written?in Sinhalese.

“Here in Sri Lanka we are still to solve out basic problems which have dogged us for over 67 years,” he said.

He noted that he was elected to the post of Chief Minister during the Northern Provincial Council elections based on a mandate he sought and now he must act according to that mandate.

Wigneswaran noted that while the Government has given a commitment to the UN to address accountability over the war, there is suspicion if the issue will be addressed properly. (Colombo Gazette)

https://colombogazettecom.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/VIGNESWARAN.mp3

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