Following massive protests demanding the resignation of the governors Azath Salley and MLAM Hizbullah of the Western Province and Eastern Province respectively, the two governors have tendered their resignations to the President.
#Srilanka : Two Muslim governors resign as protests erupt in different places to demand their removal; A Buddhist monk on fast unto death to demand resignation of Muslim politicians. pic.twitter.com/vkShB4c7td
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 3, 2019
The news was confirmed by President Sirisena’s media division saying that the resignations of the two governors were accepted by the President.
President Maithripala Sirisena accepted the resignation letters of Governors Azath Salley and M. L. A. M. Hizbullah just a while ago.
— PMD News (@PMDNewsGov) June 3, 2019
Huge protests had erupted in support of Parliamentarian and monk Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was on a hunger strike since May 31 in front of Sri Dalada Malingawa in Kandy, the holiest shrine for Buddhist in Sri Lanka, demanding the removal of three Muslim politicians from their posts namely Rishad Bathiudeen, MLAM Hizbullah and Azath Sally, alleging their links with the Easter Sunday bombings.
Buddhist monk Galagodaaththe Gnanasara, who was released by a presidential pardon last month, was also present at the protest site which saw over 10,000 supporters from all over the country.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the head of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka had also travelled to Kandy to join Rathana in the protests.
It is notable here that Buddhists and Catholics in Sri Lanka have been demanding the sacking of Muslim politicians who have been linked with extremist groups.
In the month of April this year, Sri Lanka was shaken by multiple dastardly terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds of people. The Sri Lankan government had confirmed that a local organisation named National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) was responsible for the terrorist attacks carried out on the occasion of Easter.
The terrorist attacks were carried out targeting Easter worshippers at different churches and high-end hotels that were hosting international guests. The terrorists had targeted St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the town of Negombo and a church in the town of Batticaloa.
