Governors Salley, Hizbullah resign from their posts

Western Province Governor Azath Salley and his Eastern Province counterpart M.L.A.M Hizbullah tendered their resignations to President Maithripala Sirisena, the Presidential Secretariat announced yesterday.

Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne said the President accepted the resignations of the two governors.

There was a huge outcry for the resignations of Salley and Hizbullah owing to the controversial statements made following the Easter Sunday attacks, alleged attempts to release suspects arrested for terrorism and links with the now proscribed National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ).

Their controversial statements and behaviour prompted MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera to launch a fast unto death outside Sri Dalada Maligawa demanding the resignation of the two governors as well as Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

President Sirisena is expected to appoint two new governors to fill the vacancies.