Chandrika appoints new secretary to JVP's Fisheries Ministry

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2005, 09:52 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Tuesday has appointed a new Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, one of the three ministries under the JVP control. Mr. E. Jinadasa, a senior officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service has been appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry, replacing the former Secretary, Nandasena Bambaravanage.

Although there was no reason was given for this sudden change, political observers believe that it could well be the result of the ongoing cold battle between the President and the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a major coalition partner in the ruling Freedom Alliance government.

There was no immediate reaction from the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Chandrasena Wijesinghe in this regard so far.

The President's move has come barely a day after she threw an open challenge at the rhetoric JVP to quit the ruling coalition if wanted, instead of issuing verbal threats over every single issue.

Mr. Jinadasa has been in public services since 1973 and has served in several areas of country. He was the Commissioner of Motor Traffic till 2002 and was serving as the Controller of Immigration and Emigration before his present appointment.