President accedes to Wigneswaran's request

by P. Krishnaswamy

TNA spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran MP who accompanied Northern PC Chief Minister (CM) C.V. Wigneswaran for talks on Thursday with President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer that the President acceded to the CM's request on two crucial issues.

One was the immediate appointment of a new Chief Secretary (CS) instead of the incumbent CS R. Wijialudchumy and appointing secretaries to provincial ministries on the CM's recommendation, he said.

The name of former CS K. Thiruvakaran was proposed for the post of CS and in spite of the assurance given that the appointment will be made immediately, the latest by Friday, it has not been made so far, Sumanthiran said. Mass Media and Information Minister and Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that the new appointment may be delayed because the Ministry of Public Administration which appoints public servants will need 'reasonable time' and the TNA should be patient until the appointment is made.

Issues relating to administrative problems and allocating adequate funds were also discussed in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and goodwill at the New Year meeting between the CM and the President, according to reports.