'Thondaman's resignation will not weaken Govt'

The decision taken by the Ceylon Workers' Congress Party led by Arumugam Thondaman to resign from the cabinet would in no way weaken the Government.

The party should ensure that it is not making the upcountry people 'a scapegoat' for their political gains, according to the statement by the Minister and the Upcountry People's Front leader Periaswamy Chandrasekeran yesterday on the CWC's decision to resign from the cabinet.

The statement was released by the Upcountry People's Front following a Central Committee meeting of the party held yesterday.

The statement also said that it was obvious that the CWC has taken the decision to resign from its five cabinet portfolios due to certain personal disputes it had with the government and not due to any issue of national importance.

Therefore the Upcountry People's Front would not rush into making any decision and act cautiously without damaging the political aspirations of the people the party represents, the statement said.

The statement added that the party has appointed a special committee to look into the present turbulent conditions following the CWC's resignation from the cabinet.

The Upcountry People's Front has also pointed out in its statement that by withdrawing the support of its five Parliamentarians the CWC could not simply reduce the majority of the Government in the Parliament which comprises 225 members.

- AP