With strong UNP support: Reginald Cooray re-appointed WP Chief Minister

by E. Weerapperuma

Reginald Cooray took his oaths as Chief Minister before the Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana at 12.26 pm yesterday. The United National Party which once opposed Reginald Cooray as Chief Minister of the Western Province has expressed their confidence and extended support to him to continue to work as the Chief Minister.

Nandana Mendis who was sworn as the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council (WPC) on June 22 sent has sent his resignation with the turn of events within the Western Province.

Cooray who resigned earlier from his post as chief minister in the face of a `No confidence' motion proposed by the UNP led Opposition with the JVP backing it, caused the Governor to appoint Nandana Mendis as Chief Minister. The JVP gave conditional support to him to run the WPC for one year. This was done to prevent the UNP taking over the administration of the Council, Opposition sources said.

The UNP informed the Governor that they did not wish to upset the smooth running of the WPC and as they have the majority, wanted the Governor to appoint Cooray as the Chief Minister.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana who responded to the request by the UNP called a meting of the Party heads and the Members of the Council. The SLFP and the UNP tabled affidavits in support of Cooray. Being satisfied with the views expressed by the party leaders who supported their views with affidavits, the Governor announced that Reginald Cooray has been appointed the Chief Minister.

Nandana Mendis who was sworn in as the Chief Minister a week ago addressing a Media conference in Colombo on Saturday questioned the validity of the appointment of Reginald Cooray as Chief Minister as there was no vacancy for that post.

In a letter addressed to former Chief Minister Mendis, the Governor while defending his action in declaring Western Province Member Reginald Cooray Chief Minister, has informed the Member to recollect the circumstances under which he was sworn-in as the chief minister.

In the letter addressed to Mendis the Governor said that although he claimed to have a majority of Members, the Opposition leader had told the Party leaders meeting that 59 of them did not extend support to Mendis. He said they had documentary proof for that. The Opposition leader on June 29 made a request in writing informing that the Chief Minister's position was not very clear and that they wanted a meeting called. "I called a meeting on July 1," the letter said.

Governor Mowlana told the "Daily News " that Mendis has said that he would not remain even for a second in the post if the majority of Members did not support him.

"I took his word and acted within the powers bestowed on me as Governor of the Western Province by the Constitution."

He said that he called the party leaders meeting on the request of the Opposition UNP who claimed they have the majority and they tabled the affidavits supporting Reginald Cooray as chief Minister along with the SLFP members.

"They were physically present and handed me 62 affidavits. What do you expect me to do ? Good governance demand you respond to the case on facts placed before you and I merely did that and I have no hidden agenda. The JVP gave conditional support by word whereas the UNP said they support Cooray and gave affidavits. And I did not swear-in Cooray as the chief minister immediately. I gave time to Mendis, the incumbent chief Minister to send his resignation. He in fact sent his resignation on Saturday and I took steps to swear in Cooray as Chief Minister," the Governor said.

He also said that he had not done anything against the law as suggested by some.

"I as the Governor have to act impartially.

A group who were against the Chief Minister now has resolved the issue and have decided to support him. I have to accept the decision of the majority," he explained.

The other ministers of the WPC also took their oaths before the Governor.