UPFA General Secretary prevented from removing Uhana PS Chairman
Saturday, 25 January 2014 00:00
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The crisis in Pradeshiya Sabhas run by the ruling UPFA coalition deepened yesterday after the Colombo District Court yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing the Party’s General Secretary from sacking the Chairman of the Uhana PS in the Ampara District.
UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha has been prevented from issuing letters to the Elections Commissioner or the Returning Officer for Ampara, saying that Chairman Ranjith Ekanayake had resigned from his post at the Uhana PS.
Colombo District Court Judge Priyantha Hettiarachchi issued the order after considering a petition by the chairman of the Uhana Pradeshiya Sabha. Premajayantha has been asked to appear before the court on 7 February. Some 16 local government councils or pradeshiya sabhas run by the ruling party were plunged into crisis after UPFA members voted with the opposition to defeat their budgets on two occasions. The Uhana PS budget was defeated in the first round of voting, but Council Chairman Ekananayake abruptly postponed sittings on 30 December when second round of voting was scheduled and dismissed the council until 31 January. If a Pradeshiya Sabha budget is defeated twice, the Chairman of the Council is forced to resign as per the Local Government Act. (DB)
