Rajapaksa’s UPFA gets cold feet in Uva

By a Special Correspondent-November 28, 2014

The Uva Provincial Council suspended its sittings citing cold weather, but the opposition insisted the unprecedented move was to prevent defections that could have toppled President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief Minister nephew.

Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa would have lost his job if the opposition planned defections of three members from the ruling party went ahead today (Friday), opposition leader Harin Fernando said.

“The official reason for yesterday’s suspension is that it is too cold for members to have council meetings,” Fernando said. “But, the idea is clearly to prevent a toppling of (Shashindra) Rajapaksa’s Provincial Council.”

Fernando said he was confident of securing the defections although council sessions have been put off until after the January 8 presidential elections.

“We can submit affidavits supporting our claim of support from defectors to prove our majority,” Fernando said. “We hope to take power in the Uva Provincial Council very soon.”

This is the first time that a council has postponed sittings citing cold weather.

Fernando said if it was too cold for council members, then it would be impossible for school children to sit for the December GCE Ordinary Level Examination.

“It is the duty of the government in that case to at least provide warm clothes to O/Level students,” Fernando said.

He has 15 members as against the government’s 18 in the Uva council where at least three from the government side have said they will defect, according to the opposition.

Fernando said the Western Provincial Council too was about to collapse as only two defections were needed there for the opposition to take control of that council.

“They may put off the Western Provincial Council saying it is too hot,” Fernando added.