TNA looks to form EPC administration
Writes to Governor seeking mandate
By Ariyaratne Ganegoda
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which is currently making arrangements to negotiate with the UNP and the SLMC to form an administration has written to the Governor of the Eastern Province, requesting a mandate to set up the new administration in the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC).
TNA leader, R. Sampanthan, asserted that a request has been made by the TNA to form an administration.
Sampanthan told Ceylon Today he had requested the Governor to give an answer to their request as soon as possible. He said his party has not received an answer from the Eastern Province Governor yet. “ If the opportunity for us to form an administration is denied, we would seek redress in the Court of law,” Sampanthan said.
The Eastern Provincial Council consists of 37 seats. The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have won 14 and 11 seats respectively. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has won 7 and the United National Party (UNP) 4 and the National Freedom Front (NFF) 1 seat.
The Leader of the National Freedom Front and Minister Wimal Weerawansa, responding to a query by Ceylon Today said one seat won by his party belongs to the UPFA. Thus the UPFA has 15 seats in the EPC.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayaka, responding to the TNA’s remark said the party would consider such a proposal, if it is made by the TNA.
“The UNP is prepared to help any political party that seeks to oppose the agenda of the UPFA vis-a-vis the formation of the new administration in the EPC. If such a plan is mooted the SLMC too should be made a partner in it,” Attanayake.
However, no political party has received a majority mandate of over 50% to set up the administration in the Council, Attanayakepointed out. The SLMC is undecided as to whether it is going to support the TNA to form the new administration in the EPC.
Media Spokesman for the SLMC, Hasan Ali responding said the final decision as to which party the SLMC will support will be taken at the Supreme Council meeting of the party.
