Mowlana on WPC issue

Governor of the Western Province S. Alavi Mowlana announced yesterday that he has postponed the activities of the Western Provincial for three weeks due to the need to conduct a formal investigation into the allegations made against the Chief Minister while safeguarding justice, fairplay and transparency.

He had taken this action since a swift decision could not be made on the face of the allegations without ascertaining their validity and invalidity on the one hand and in the light of a majority of members of the ruling UPFA group reaffirming their confidence in the Chief Minister.

The Governor in a communique issued yesterday said 11 allegations have been made in the no-confidence motion tabled by the UNF group against the Chief Minister. Four of them are based on financial frauds and misconduct.

Leader of the JVP group Deepthi Rajapakse has told the electronic and print media and him (Governor) personally that the JVP would be supporting the no-confidence motion.

"There is no possibility for us to disregard the opinion expressed by the JVP which is a powerful partner of the governing UPFA group in the Western Provincial Council.

Therefore, in my capacity as Governor Western Province I have to act with deep responsibility in terms of the powers vested in me," the Governor's Communique added. The Communique further said that during these three weeks, allegations made against the Chief Minister would be investigated and a report submitted. Further action would be taken on the basis of this report.