UNP to seek stay order

While the Western, Central and Southern Provincial Council are likely to be dissolved next Tuesday according to informed sources, the main opposition UNP is gearing up to obtain a court stay order preventing the government from dissolving the Western Provincial Council.

According to reliable sources the respective governors of these provinces have been asked to cancel their overseas trips and be prepared to announce the dissolution.

The Daily Mirror learns that Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana has cancelled his planned pilgrimage to Mecca following orders received from the government.

Sources also said the earlier decision to dissolve Parliament on December 8 after the conclusion of the Budget Debate would be changed.

However, Western Province Chief Minister Reginold Cooray told the Daily Mirror that there was no final decision as to which provincial councils would be dissolved. “We are eagerly waiting to see future developments in this regard,” he said.

Meanwhile UNP Provincial Council Member and senior Lawyer Sujeewa Senasinghe said the party was preparing to obtain a stay order from the Supreme Courts to prevent the government from dissolving the Western Provincial Council. He said there was no necessity for a dissolution as the UNP has pledged its support to the Chief Minister.

“The government cannot dissolve any council at any time just to win elections and the people will be affected as funds already allocated for various development projects would remain unutilized,” he said.

UNP members of the Southern Provincial Council are also expected to meet today to discuss the situation with the council’s Opposition Leader Justin Galapatti in the chair. Mr. Galapatti said no decision had been made yet to take legal action against the dissolution of the Southern Province.