The government today (4) said that the Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council will have to seek prior approval before heading-off to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran would have to take permission to travel to India.         

"If he is going abroad, he will have to get permission from the Governor of the Province,"  Rambukwella told reporters at the weekly cabinet press briefing.       

A delegation of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leaders travelled to New Delhi last month for talks with Indian leaders including Prime Minister Modi. Vigneswaran is also a member of the party.

The TNA looks up to New Delhi's support to win additional powers to the northern province on terms of the provincial council system introduced through the Rajiv-Jayawardene Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.