Western Provincial Council suspended

President appoints independent committee to probe allegations

by Uditha Kumarasinghe, Anjana Gamage and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

An independent committee will be appointed with immediate effect on the directive of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to look into 11 allegations levelled against the Western Province Chief Minister Reginald Cooray by the UNF from its No confidence motion.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana yesterday postponed the sessions of the Western province for three weeks until an impartial inquiry is held.

Chief Minister Cooray told a media briefing yesterday that if these allegations levelled against him are proved he is ready to resign from his portfolio.

"I am ready to resign if any charges against me are proved," he said. The Chief Minister remarked that it is a matter for contention that the JVP as a coalition party of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government has extended its support to this No confidence motion moved by the UNF led Opposition.

According to the Chief Minister, the manner in which the UNF moved this No confidence motion was undemocratic. "Before the UNF moved this No confidence motion, they have never levelled these allegations against me at any Party Leaders' meeting," he said.

However, Western Provincial Council ministers and party leaders of the SLFP, MEP, Communist Party and the Sri Lanka Maha Jana Party who attended the press briefing expressed their fullest cooperation to the Chief Minister.

Several Council members emphasised that there are certain shortcomings of the provisions of the Western Provincial Council Act which will help political parties to take undue advantages based on personnel interest. They said they will seek the assistance of each political party representing the WPC to amend the WPC Act in future.

Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, North Western Province Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath and Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva said they will be fully dedicated to defeat this political conspiracy launched against Cooray and also to further strengthen the power of the United People's Freedom Alliance Government.

The release said it was the duty and responsibility of all to safeguard the UPFA Government which came to power putting an end to an unfortunate era. All Chief Ministers have stated that they will make any sacrifice to safeguard the UPFA Government and the UPFA led Provincial Councils. They also said all should act in unison at this critical juncture.

The Chief Ministers requested all constituent parties of the UPFA to be vigilant of these UNF conspiracies and also outlined that the UNF through its conspiracies cannot defeat the UPFA Government and Provincial Councils which came to power from people's votes.

Issuing a statement the Governor stated: "Eleven charges have been presented by the United National Party against the Western Province Chief Minister. Four charges are on financial matters and the JVP has shown support to the charge sheet as well.

However, the JVP being a main part of the UPFA government, we could not overlook their attitude as well. Therefore as the Governor of the Western Province, I have to work in a responsible manner. Many MPs of the government have shown their confidence in the Chief Minister. As there should be transparency in whatever we do, I have decided to suspend the sessions for three weeks".

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Councillor, M.S.M. Aslam addressing the news conference said this No confidence motion against the Chief Minister was moved without any prior notice.

"We cannot discredit the dignity of the council. We have been elected by the people to do some work. Therefore the SLMC will keen and further study on this present situation.

The SLMC will take a decision on this issue shortly."

"As a group the SLMC is still having discussions on this matter whether to support the charge sheet or to continue the administration of the Western province. Still we are having discussions," he said.

Commenting on the SLMC attitude to the issue, Chief Minister Cooray said that the SLMC is not looking for party politics at this time and they want to protect the provincial council.

"The SLMC welcomes an inquiry and I believe that they will later make an impartial decision on this matter," Cooray said.

A large number of supporters were gathered at the entrance of the Savasthri to express their support to the Chief Minister yesterday.

The UNP yesterday protested against the suspension of the sessions, opposoite the WPC offices in Battaramulla. Meanwhile, the JVP Group of the Western Provincial Council yesterday stressed that their intention was to safeguard the Freedom Alliance. "We are committed to safeguard the Freedom Alliance and its policies. Ours is a struggle against malpractices and irregularities," the Provincial Council's JVP Group Leader and Provincial Council Member Waruna Rajapakse told a press conference last afternoon.

He said the best solution to resolve this crisis is to appoint a suitable person who could perform the functions of the Chief Minister in a transparent manner with the collaboration of its members.

Responding to a question, Rajapakse refuted a news report that the JVP had joined hands with the UNP to appoint a committee to look into the issue. "We have no agreement with the UNP. We are committed to safeguard the Alliance. Our stance is that those who go against the policies of the Alliance should be removed."