CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

HEZBOLLAH ENDS CRISIS AND TAKES OATHS AS A MINISTER IN THE EASTERN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

By Walter Jayawardhana

M.L.A.M.Hezbollah, set aside his claims for Chief Ministership of the Eastern Province and took oaths as a Minister in the administration of Chief Minister Sivenesathurai Chandrakantha taking oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, bringing to an end a crisis developing regarding political leadership of the area.

“I do not have any issue with the Chief Minister.As we have been without a Provincial administration for the last 20 years I am very desirous of developing the area closely with him,”he told the press in a conference broadcast by the Independent Television Network.

He also said he would extend his fullest cooperation to the Chief Minister. Hisbullah was sworn in before the President as the Eastern Provincial Council Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Welfare, Probation and Child Care, Women’s Affairs, Youth Affairs, Sports, Information Technology, Education, Co-operative Development and Food Supplies and Distribution.Thereafter, Javahir Sali and Mohamed Subahir elected to the Eastern Provincial Council took oaths before the President as a Member of the Council at the Presidential Seceretariat.

Later Minister lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said, Chief Minister Sivanesatheturai Chandrakanthan had expressed full support in the arrangement of making Hezbollah a Minister. Addressing the weekly cabinet news briefing yesterday, he invited the UNP to join in the development of the East making the provincial legislature into a body expressing national aspirations of unity. Muslim leaders of the country had taken a judicious decision after discussions, permitting Mr. Hezbollah to accept a Ministerial portfolio, he said.

This is very important when taking national harmony into consideration. They always requested the Eastern Province to have an assembly reflecting such national unity, he said. Although Mr Hezsbollah was demanding the Chief Minister’s post earlier, he had consented to be a Minister and provide true leadership to the Muslim community. The Eastern Chief Minister has said that Mr Hisbullah will be tasked with all powers and will support him to develop the area. Minister Lakshman Yapa said this fulfills all expectations of the government.

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