Alliance faces test in WPC after JVP pullout

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 June 2005, 18:58 GMT]
The fate of the elected Western Provincial Council (WPC) will be decided by Governor Mr.Alavi Mowlana when he meets leaders of the United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA), United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), political sources said. JVP withdrew from the UPFA last week precipitating a crisis in WPC governing coalition.

UNP claimed the right to the Chief Minister post of the WPC, as it is the largest single party in the council with 39 members.

"I have informed Governor Mowlana of UNP's stand that the UNP should be called upon to form the administration according to Section 54 (E) of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution," said WPC Opposition Leader Mr.Kithsiri Kahatapitya, sources said.

The strength of the UPFA has been reduced to 39 when the JVP with 26 members withdrew its support, sources said.

JVP members sat in the opposition benches when the WPC met for the first time Monday after their party withdrew its support to the UPFA, the ruling coalition in Sri Lanka's parliament, sources said.

Political sources speculate that the WPC could be dissolved paving the way for a new election if the Governor fails to come to a decision whether to invite the minority UPFA or the majority UNP to form a new administration, sources said.

With the resignation of Mr.Reginald Cooray from the post of Chief Minister, the UNP sponsored no confidence motion against him was rendered ineffective. JVP even before it quit from the UPFA had extended its support to the UNP's no-confidence motion against Mr.Reginald Cooray, sources said.

Mr.Reginald Cooray in his farewell speech he made Monday relinquishing his Chief Minister post accused the JVP of burning his house in 1989 disturbances in the south, sources said.