Defence Ministry has no Right to Impose Ban on Chief Minister- Rajitha

Followed by an incident in a school function where the Chief Minster of Eastern Province reprimanded a Navy for preventing him entry, defence secretary has declared that Military camps and installations were out of bounds to Chief Minister. Further, all three forces decided to boycott all functions attended by the Chief Minister.  State defence minister Ruwan Wijewardena has  said that he would not at all approve of the CM’s having placed a Navy commanding officer into inconvenience.  There were widespread condemnation by various civil organizations and individuals regarding this incident. Media organizations  have blown this issue out of proportion.

On returning from his foreign trip, Prime Minister has appealed to both parties to the conflict to restrain from making statements to the press until the return of President to sought out the matter.

Followed by a discussion Prime Minister had with the President on this issue, imposed ban was removed.

The state ministry of defence has no ability to say that a ban had been imposed on the eastern province chief minister from entering military camps and it should have come as a policy of the state said, cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne yesterday.