‘Lawyers for Democracy’ is dismayed at the appointment of Major General (Rtd) G. A. Chandrasiri as the Governor of the Northern Province disregarding repeated calls by the Chief Minister of the Northern Province Dr. C. V. Vigneshwaran and the TNA to appoint a non military person as the Governor. The appointment of Major General (Rtd) G. A. Chandrasiri who functioned as the Security Forces Commander of the Peninsula is in the eyes of the people a continuation of the military rule from which the people yean for a change.
This appointment has been made disregarding the sensitivities of the people of the Northern Province, which will be a further hurdle in carrying forward a reconciliation process. The appointment of a civilian as Governor would have been a symbolic step towards reconciliation following the establishment of the Northern Provincial Council.
The appointment of a civilian Governor is of absolute necessity to win the confidence of the people to bring about normalization and to support the Northern Provincial Council and its’ Chief Minister to establish normalcy and to demonstrate to the world the bona fides of the government in keeping the reconciliation process alive.
We call upon the President even at this late stage to consider the appointment of a non military person as the Governor of the Northern Province to bring about normalcy in the province.
Lal Wijenayake
Convener Lawyers for Democracy
‘Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) is a representative body of legal practitioners throughout the island. Conveners include Lal Wijenayake, Chandrapala Kumarage, J. C. Weliamuna, K. S. Ratnavale, Sudath Netthisinghe, Sudarshana Gunawardana. It was established on 10th December 2009’.
