Military restrictions imposed on Eastern Province Chief Minister lifted

Ministry of Defence said yesterday the restrictions imposed by the security forces on the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Nazeer Ahmed have been lifted.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said restrictions imposed on the Chief Minister were lifted with effect from today.

The security forces decided to bar the Chief Minister from entering military facilities after he verbally assaulted Senior Commanding Officer of the Vidura Naval Camp in Sampur at an event in Sampur recently.

The tri-forces also decided not to participate in any functions attended by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister at an event on 20 May in Sampur Maha Vidyalaya, where Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando, who was the Chief Guest and US Ambassador Atul Keshap were also present, has berated the navy officer telling him to “just get out from here.”

In a letter to the President and Prime Minister, Ahamed explaining his side of the recent incident condemned the military’s decision as a political decision and said everybody involved in the dispute at the event in a Sampur school should apologise for their wrong actions.