News

News

JVP gives up on defeated candidates
Agreement flouted
By Harinda Vidanage
Despite an agreement between the PA and the JVP that defeated candidates would not get top state posts, two such appointments have already been made with the JVP making no protests.

As a compromise, JVP sources are saying now the party would not appoint defeated candidates to ministries given to its members. UPFA's Batticaloa district defeated candidate, M. L M .Hisbullah has been appointed as chairman of the Airport Aviation Authority while Shalitha Wijesundera, a defeated candidate from Gampaha district has been appointed to a newly created Managing Director’s post in the same institution.

EPDP's Digamadulla defeated candidate, Gunasekaran Shankar, has taken over as chairman of the Cashew Corporation coming under the purview of Minister Douglas Devananda. But, this week, a JVP cabinet minister turned down a proposal from the President's office to appoint a defeated parliamentary election candidate to head an organisation coming under the purview of his ministry.

Small and Rural Industries Minister K. D. Lalkantha turned down the request, saying he had already picked on a nominee. The President's office had asked that Colombo district candidate Niranjan Nanayakkara be appointed as chairman of the Industrial Development Board.

In a related move, the President's office has written to Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath of the JVP, recommending that Tissa Abeysekera be appointed as chairman of the National Film Corporation.

Top

Back to News