Ranil calls for a Northern civil Governor

Saturday, 27 April 2013 01:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Leader of main Opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremasinghe, who is currently touring the North, said his party would contest the Northern Provincial Council election. Wickremasinghe has also called on the Government to appoint a civil Governor for the Northern Province, in place of the current governor who is a retired army major general.

He said before the Government holds election for the Northern PC, it has to fulfil four conditions and appointing a civil governor was one of them. He explained that a civil Governor would give credibility during the Northern Provincial Council election.

According to Wickremasinghe, the Government should also appoint the independent commissions for elections, police, public service and judiciary before the Northern Provincial Council election. He also stated that the Government should stop actions that endanger the independence of the judiciary and remove the officials who are responsible for those actions.

Wickremasinghe called for inviting foreign poll monitors for the Northern Provincial Council election and added that the foreign monitors should also include a team from Commonwealth. He said if the Government holds elections for the Northern PC after taking these measures, it will be the first step in resolving several other important issues.

The Opposition Leader, accompanied by several party representatives, will be touring the North until 28 April. The delegation was scheduled to visit Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu on Friday and Saturday.