The ousted Chairman of the Communist Party Raja Colloure says that Central Committee of the party cannot determine his fate on a decision he took as the Governor of the Southern Province.
The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Communist Party has decided to remove Raja Collure from the post of Chairman of the party yesterday and says he will not resign from the party.
Having a brief interview with Lankasara, Collure further says he was appointed as the Governor while he was serving to the party as the Chairman.
” The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka does not have the power to take disciplinary action against me. I am considering what action should be taken regarding the decision taken by the Central Committee.”
“According to the Constitution of the Communist Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party has no right to act against the decisions taken by me as Governor.”
Explaining the situation that led to his removal he told that “according to the power vested with the provincial council governor i made a suggestion to reopen the schools of North Western Province in 21st October.
I stated that if a teacher commits an act of indiscipline against a principal for disrupting this process during the opening of schools, disciplinary action will be taken against him. At the same time, I stated that after an investigation and disciplinary action, I intend to take action to suspend anyone who has committed an act of indiscipline.”
In the absence of provincial councils, the Governor has the power over education in the province. Also, the vast majority of schools belong to the provincial councils. What I did was to open schools with less than 200 students on the instructions of the President and the Ministry of Line Education.”
Some trade unions were angry over this. I have nothing to do. I decided to implement government policy. It was because of my statement that I was removed from the post of party chairman.” He further said.
Collure said that he joined the Communist Party while studying at the University of Peradeniya, when he was 20 years old and have been a member of the Communist Party for about 63 years now.
“Before I took this appointment I informed the party that the President had decided to appoint me as the Governor. When informed, the party approved it.” Collure noted further.
