28 March, 2024

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NPC Crisis: Sam-Wiggie Talks Today

As the Tamil National Alliance, the TNA, struggles against fissiparous tendencies threatening the seams that hold the TNA together, R. Sampanthan, the TNA leader, has written to Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran of the Northern Province. The letter explains what Sampanthan seeks:

Hon.  Justice CV  Wigneswaran,

Chief Minister Northern Province

My Dear Wignes,

Thank you for your letter of 14.06.2017 with copy of speech made by you.

I wish to state the following. The board of inquiry appointed by you conducted investigations in respect of four ministers. The inquiry had been concluded and their report submitted to you. Two have been found guilty and two others have not been found guilty.

You stated in the Provincial Council that you would act on the basis of the report of the board of inquiry.

You have called for the resignations of the two ministers found guilty. No one has complained about that decision.

The complaint is about the action taken by you against the other two ministers in regard to whom there is no finding of guilt by the board of inquiry. This action is being seen as a violation of the principles of natural justice and unwarranted.

I called you on Tuesday the 13th to convey to you that such action could be resisted by the two ministers not found guilty and the members of the provincial council and suggested caution.

I also expressed concern that while you had been in touch with the other leaders of constituent parties in the Tamil National Alliance you had not discussed this matter with Hon. Mavai Senathirajah Member of Parliament and Leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK).  You have called him later in the day and he had conveyed to you that action should not be taken against Ministers not found guilty.

On Wednesday the 14th you announced punitive action even against the two ministers who had not been found guilty.  Whatever that happened thereafter was as a result of your aforesaid action.

It is my view that to bring things to an end it is necessary to first take remedial action pertaining to the two ministers who have not been found guilty.

Unwarranted action should not be the cause for promoting disunity and disturbing the functioning of the Northern Provincial Council.

I would urge you to take early remedial action in regard to the two ministers not found guilty by your board of inquiry. This would not deter you from holding any further inquiry.

Sincerely,

R. Sampanthan

Leader of the Tamil National Alliance

Colombo Telegraph learns that Sampanthan will arrive in Jaffna for urgent talks tomorrow, Sunday, with the Chief Minister.

A near life-time member of the Federal Party was visibly upset. He said, “When Wigneswaran was brought into the FP, no one wanted him. Sampanthan Aiyah insisted and had his way. However, this motion of no confidence in the Chief Minister by our own members was not thought through. Party Seniors were never consulted. If it is tabled, it will pass. Out of the 38 members of the Provincial Assembly, 30 are of the TNA and 15 of the Federal Party. Even the non-FP members of the TNA will fall in line if they want our nomination next time. The Muslims will vote with us. We need merely 20 for passage. Once passed, the Chief Minister will not be able to even get a budget through and will have to step down.

“Did those who initiated this foolish motion consider what it will mean to the TNA? Having brought Wigneswaran in as a member of the FP, however foolishly, we now have to work with him.”

Sampanthan’s rush to Jaffna is to avoid a permanent and disastrous split. Continued the official,

“All those TNA chaps supporting the Chief Minister are pokkiris (போக்கிரி means scoundrel). These pokkiris never had a policy other than to break the TNA. Breaking the TNA is to break Tamil unity. That will break the FP. I am telling you, if you break the FP, that will be the end of the Tamil people.”

However, Colombo Telegraph learns that many are pushing for C.V.K. Sivagnanam of the FP, the Leader of the House, to be the new Chief Minister.

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Latest comments

  • 3
    1

    Successive GoSLs have destroyed the economic and social structure of Tamils. In spite of this Tamils have maintained a façade of unity. It is very clear that a trap is being setup to divide and decimate Tamil unity. Tamil leaders must not take the bait.

  • 0
    0

    CT Jaffna Desk,

    Thank you for the article. I have been away.

    Two ministers and their secretaries have been found guilty but I have not seen the results of the investigation anywhere. Can you please obtain and publish a copy.

    What were the original complaints?

    What have the two ministers and their secretaries been found guilty of? Was this “verdict” given by the CM alone?

    What happens to the guilty? The ministers cannot continue as ministers but continue as members of the council? The secretaries are transferred? Should they not all be charged in a court if there is enough evidence?

    What about possible previous secretaries and others who worked with the ministers? Have they all been investigated? How can only 4 people be responsible?

  • 0
    1

    We are greatly saddened by the way the things were handled by Hon. C.M of NP during the present crisis. C.M has been duped by Suresh Premachandran & Gajendra Kumar who don’t have any political clout and they faced an entirely a peaceful and democratic election and lost. Now, they go behind Hon.C.V to hoodwink people who see the C.M as a reasonable and intelligent personality. But, Hon.C.V has not yet been evolved into a politician. Hon.Sampanthar seems to pin hopes on the incumbent Govt., particularly H.E the President. As things are moving slow and dividends are still to come, people tend to go against the Hon.Sampanthar and other parties ( Suresh & Co) try to maximize their effort to get political mileage.

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