President-Sampanthan meeting, a welcome move

by Manjula Fernando

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said the TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa to resolve the Northern Province Chief Minister's swearing-in was a welcome move.

The swearing-in is to take place at 9.30 am tomorrow at Temple Trees, Presidential Media Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said, adding that Friday's meeting between the President and the TNA leader was cordial. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga had also been present.

SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali said, "The decision to swear-in the Northern Province Chief Minister and ITAK Provincial Councillors before the President shows that the TNA respected the Constitution of the country.

"Constitutionally, President Rajapaksa is the Head of State and all parties must respect the Head of State," he said.

Sampanthan met President Rajapaksa on Friday morning and the TNA announced later that their Chief Minister and Provincial Councillors will be sworn-in before the President on October 7.

Earlier, there was a stalemate since ITAK's Chief Minister-elect C.V. Wigneswaran refused to be sworn-in before the Northern Province Governor, Retired Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri. ITAK Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran was quoted in the media as saying that Wigneswaran was not ready to be sworn-in before the President as well.

The stalemate was resolved at a breakfast meeting the President had with the TNA leader.

Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is scheduled to meet President Rajapaksa on Tuesday. He will arrive in the country tomorrow to take up the issue of Indian fishermen crossing over to Sri Lankan waters, according to Indian media.