Seventeen members of the Uva Provincial Council today requested Governor Nanda Mathew to appoint Opposition Leader Harin Fernando as Chief Minister.


Five from the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and 12 from the opposition met the Governor and submitted individual affidavits pledging their support to Mr. Fernando.  


UNP member Tissakuttiarachchi, who had crossed over to the UPFA days before the presidential election and UPFA member Vadivel Suresh were among them.  


Meanwhile Leader of the Opposition (Uva PC) Harin Fernando said 17 members in the 34-member council had pledged their support to the UNP thereby reducing the UPFA’s strength to 15 members.


The JanathaVimukthiPeramuna (JVP) has two seats in the UPC Governor Nanda Mathew confirmed receiving the affidavits from 17 members. He said four others had informed him that they would meet him tomorrow.(Prasad Rukmal and PalithaAriyawansa)