A New Governor for Northern Province?

The Northern Province is likely to get a new governor after Parliamentary elections. The new incumbent will be a military face. People of the region desire that the government’s final choice should win the hearts and minds of the Tamils and the Tamil diaspora.

Two retired Major Generals, G.A. Chandrasri and Mahinda Hathurusinghe who saw action in Jaffna during and after the armed conflict, are in the race for the job, reports say.

Hathurusinghe, who came under a cloud during his Jaffna stint, appears to be the front runner to succeed the incumbent Ms. P.S.M. Charle, says Tamil daily, Thinakural, published from Jaffna, quoting sources, may the stoiry planted by vested interests, and adds that the President may appoint him after the general elections.

According to an online news portal, Ms Charles would proceed on retirement after the general election and thus pave the way to enable the President to pick the new governor of his choice.

Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasri was the governor of Northern Province from July 2009 to January 2015.

During the war time, he was the Jaffna Forces Commander. At present he heads Airport Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, a government organization that controls the airports and aviation institutions in the island nation. He has a good track record, and has earned name as a man of action and vision.

But, going by media speculation, he may be pipped for the Governor’s post by Major General (Retd) Mahinda Hathurusinghe, who also was a Security Forces Commander in Jaffna (2010 – 2014).

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