Trinco UC's deadline ignored

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) resolved at a special meeting on Saturday, to stage a token fast in front of the Council's office on May 20, protesting against the failure of the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government to grant the UC permission to open the new general market in Trincomalee town, said sources there.

The meeting of the Council, at which only four of the twelve members were present, barely making a quorum, decided that the manner in which the protest is to continue will be finalised on May 20, after the one day token fast.

The Council met yesterday, in keeping with a resolution made earlier, that the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government had to grant permission to open the market by May 8, and in the event it was not granted, the Council would stage a protest by fasting in relays.

The Chairman of the UC, P. Sooriyamoorthy said that no reply had been received by the Council despite the deadline having lapsed.

Today's resolution, which was moved by Deputy Chairman K Logeswaran and seconded by G Gnanaprakasam, said that the opening of the general market was opposed by influential

groups , though during the debate it was openly admitted that the opposition came from racist elements, said sources.

The resolution also stated that unless the Council could take an independent decision to have the market opened, a fast in relays would be organised, commencing May 20, in front of the UC office.

The resolution also requested the cooperation of the general public and community based organisations in this endeavour.

The Council also moved that 700,000 rupees be allocated to the renovation of the old market.

This move is significant because the traders at the old market, which is controlled by the Sinhalese, claim that the UC is indifferent to the welfare of the existing market and wants the new market opened to establish the influence of the Tamil speaking traders, said sources.