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Cooray cornered despite Chandrika cover
By Santhush Fernando
The Western Provincial Council is still in turmoil with conflicting claims and moves over the fate of Chief Minister Reginold Cooray. In the latest twist, UNP councillor Lawrence Madiwela said the 39 UNP members supported by four other opposition members and 23 JVPers would submit affidavits to Governor Alavi Moulana asking for the removal of the chief minister.

He claimed that such a move would prevent the governor from dissolving the council and Mr. Moulana would be obliged to name a new chief minister. Meanwhile, on Thursday a committee appointed by the Governor to probe the allegations against the chief minister was converted into a presidential commission. But UNP opposition sources said the Attorney General had given a ruling that they could go ahead with the motion of no-confidence as the presidential commission was not a court of law.

UNP opposition leader Kithsiri Kahatapitiya said that following the AG's ruling the council's chairman Jagath Angage had agreed to place the no-confidence motion on the agenda for June 20. UNP councillors said they were accepting about ten of the 36 SLFP members also to support the no-confidence motion.

At a meeting with President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday, JVP leaders insisted they would not change their stand and that Mr. Cooray must go.

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