The Provincial Governors who had recently been notified by the Presidential Secretariat to resign from their positions have unanimously decided to continue in office, The Daily Morning learned.

It was recently reported that the Presidential Secretariat had informed four Governors, namely, 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.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Yahampath, who was appointed as the Eastern Provincial Governor by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said that they had not received any notification from the Presidential Secretariat in writing. However, she said that she had received a telephone call from the Presidential Secretariat asking her to step down. 

In response to a query as to whether they would resign as per the Presidential Secretariat's directive, she said: “I initially thought that I should resign, especially because the Governors should work cordially with the President and the Presidential Secretariat, but there should also be a unanimous decision as some other Governors are also linked to this matter. We cannot make decisions regarding these matters alone. Therefore, we decided that we would continue to hold office.”

Speaking further, she said that it would cause a misconception that they (Governors) have committed some wrongdoing if they resign. “If we resign, it is something like we have accepted some allegation. We are confident that we have done nothing wrong. A misunderstanding might have caused this matter.” added Yahampath.

Following the reports of Governors being directed to resign, the General Secretary of the United National Party, of which President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Leader, Palitha Range Bandara said recently that no one representing the UNP had received any invitation to take the Governorship of any Province thus far, but everyone in the Party was ready to accept the responsibility and extend their fullest support to Wickremesinghe if such was given. The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna which backs Wickremesinghe stated however that they would not make any intervention in the possible reappointment of Governors.

When contacted about the matter, the Presidential Media Division said they were unaware of it and had no further comment.