June 6, 2013, 10:31 pm

By Franklin R. Satyapalan

The boycott of Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) sessions by the Board of Ministers (BoM) and all ruling Party councilors continued, Council sources said yesterday.

The protest was consequent to a row with the Chief Minister and the Governor.

Chief Minister of the Province Najeeb A. Majeed, when contacted for comment, said that the President or the government was yet to intervene to settle the matter. He however expressed confidence that he could patch up differences with the board of minister and the members of the ruling party in time for the next session scheduled for June 18.

The rebellious EPC Ministers are said to be demanding that the President remove the Governor and the Chief Minister. They have accused the Governor of being an impediment to the implementation of decisions of the Council and the Chief Minister of being inefficient.

They have also accused the Chief Minister of not inviting them to functions and events attended by government Ministers.

The EPC board of ministers initially boycotted the ruling party group meetings chaired by the Chief Minister on the May 18. Thereafter they skipped the ministerial meeting of May 30 and all sessions  of the council.

The EPC board of ministers comprises Provincial Minister of Education, M. S. Uduma Lebbe (National Congress), Provincial Minister of Education, Wimalaweera Dissanayake (SLFP), Provincial Minister of Agriculture Nazeer A. Ahamed (SLMC) and Provincial Minister of Health M.I.M. Mansoor (SLMC).