Merger of North and East not ruled illegal-Srikantha

TNA MP M. Srikantha told Parliament yesterday the Supreme Court did not rule the merger of the North and East illegal.

Joining the debate on an adjournment motion moved by JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa in the House, he said the Supreme Court only held that the procedure which was followed in merging the two provinces was illegal and not the merger.

He said the North and East were temporarily merged under the Indo Lanka Peace Accord in 1987 which was a pact between two states. “Therefore, the Sri Lankan government cannot ignore the procedures that have to be implemented under it,” he said.

He charged that the government is trying to handover the Eastern Province to Minister Athaullah “He is day dreaming to become the Chief Minister of the East,” he said.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/21/news/14.asp)