“President Ranil Wickremesinghe will make the necessary decisions regarding the possible change of certain Provincial Governors and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will not interfere with his decisions,” said SLPP General Secretary and Parliamentarian, Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam.
It was recently reported that the President had requested four Governors to resign, and that they would be replaced by senior members of the United National Party (UNP), of which Wickremesinghe is the Leader.
When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether the SLPP would have any concern about the possible replacements of Governors, Kariyawasam said that they would not interfere with the President in such matters. "It is up to him (Wickremesinghe) to make the necessary decisions. We are not going to interfere with his work. We have given that promise to the nation that we will support him in eradicating 'terrorism' and reviving the economy."
Kariyawasam had earlier told The Daily Morning that the SLPP would prefer if a new Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the President with more Ministerial posts being given to “real” SLPPers. When queried regarding their current stance on the matter, he said: “Right after Wickremesinghe was elected as the President, we made a request to appoint a new Cabinet of Ministers. That request is still valid, but we are not going to ask him over and over again.”
It was reported last week that the Presidential Secretariat had informed the Governors of four Provinces, including Eastern Provincial Governor Anuradha Yahampath, North Western Provincial Governor, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Uva Provincial Governor A.J.M. Muzammil and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, to resign.
Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said on 7 May that no one representing the UNP had received any invitation to take the Governorship of any Province thus far, but that everyone in the Party is ready to accept the responsibility and extend their fullest support to Wickremesinghe if such is given.