By Shanika Sriyananda

Eastern Province Chief Minister Nazeer Ahamed was yesterday barred him entering military camps by the Government. 

Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi told the Daily FT that Nazeer would not be permitted to enter any military camp following his behaviour at a public function held in Sampur last Friday. No security forces will also attend functions where Nazeer will be present.  

“The Government has also instructed the Tri-Forces Commanders not to allow any servicemen to take part in any functions and meetings attended by him,” he said.

Hettiarachchi said he had handed over the report on the incident submitted by the SLN Commander Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne to President Maithripala Sirisena before his departure to participate in the G7 Summit in Japan.

The SLN Commander in his report has requested the Defence Ministry to take action against Ahamed for humiliating a senior officer. Following the Defence Ministry instructions the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have issued a circular banning him entering their camps.

Nazeer, who attended a function held to open the science laboratory and computer unit at Sampur Maha Vidyalaya, had accused Captain Premaratne, the Officer-in-Charge of the naval base Vidura in Sampur of not allowing him to reach the stage on 20 May.

According to SLN sources, Nazeer had forcibly got onto the stage, where the Chief Guest of the event, Governor of the Eastern Province Austin Fernando, was distributing some certificates to the school children.

While the Governor was trying to calm Nazeer down and stop him from creating a tense moment, he embarrassed US Ambassador Atul Keshap, school staff and children as he continued to harshly scold the SLN Captain. 

A video clip of the event subsequently released went viral. 

When contacted Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi said that the SLN Commander had submitted a detailed report on the incident to the Defence Secretary on the day following the incident at Sampoor. 

“We have now been instructed by the Defence Ministry not to participate in any events attended by him,” he confirmed. 

Governor Fernando vehemently refuting Nazeer’s allegations against him said that his attempts to calm Nazeer down failed as he was furiously blaming the officer. Nazeer, however, told the media that Governor Fernando should be held responsible for creating such a situation and his ‘outburst’ was due to the Governor’s fault. 

He accused the Governor of disrespecting him and also not following protocol. 

“I know more about protocol than him and that was why I invited him to be on stage,” said Fernando, who also noted he had served under six Presidents while being in the public service for the last four decades.

Refusing to comment further, Fernando, a former Defence Secretary, said he, as the Governor, did his best to avoid a confrontation and also to avoid embarrassing the US Ambassador, who came to the event on his invitation and also the schoolchildren.

Several attempts to get a comment from the Chief Minister were unsuccessful.

MR calls for Govt. action

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday weighed in with his views, calling for the Government to take tough action against the Eastern Province Chief Minister. 

Releasing a statement MP Rajapaksa insisted “deliberate insults directed in this manner by the political authorities at the armed forces that rid the country of the scourge of terrorism should stop”.

“We suspect that this latest incident is a part of the project that began in January last year to demoralise our war heroes. I call upon the Government not to sweep this latest incident under the carpet the way they dodged taking action over the incident in the north. It is the duty of the Government to formally investigate the conduct of the EP Chief Minister and to take steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur anywhere in the country in future,” Rajapaksa went on to say. 

Rajapaksa said the incidents that took place in the north and in Sampur should not have taken place anywhere in the country. 

“Politicians in any part of the country should not seek to enter army camps without obtaining prior permission or giving due notice. Likewise no politician in any part of the country should ever speak to a uniformed member of the armed forces at a public meeting the way the EP Chief Minister spoke to that naval officer.”