Pillaiyan – Hisbullah clash develops

(Lanka-e-News, ) The function scheduled for today (16) for the official swearing in of Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province was postponed due to the protest of the Muslim Ministers of the government.

The President was in a lengthy discussion with 11 Muslim Ministers and the MPs last evening (15) and they pointed out that they could not face their people if Pillaiyan was appointed as Chief Minister.

The President held discussions with Muslim MPs and Ministers as a group and individually. They have said that the Muslim councilors will act independently in the Provincial Council.
Sources from Temple Trees said that the government Provincial Councilors had been informed to arrive in there between 1.30 and 2.00 PM today (16) to swear in on auspicious time of 2.07 PM.

Pillaiyan Group won the maximum number of seats as a party in the Eastern Provincial Council. He won 06 seats while SLFP won 05, Athavulla 04 and Hisbulla 03. There are 08 Muslim MPs in the UPFA but Hisbulla’s group has only 03 while Athavulla faction has 04.

However, the Mawlavis in the Eastern Province insist that Mr. Hisbulla should be granted the Chief Minister post. It is reported that the politicians in the Eastern Province will be unable to engage in politics if the requests of the Mawlavis are not granted.