Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that he was aware of moves to remove him of the Chief Ministerial position in the Western Provincial Council. However, these will not be successful, he added.

Speaking to media, Ranatunga said that there was a move by the opposition to collect affidavits from Provincial Councillors, which had not been successful. Later, the UNP and some members of the UPFA have apparently started conspiring to replace Ranatunga with a UPFA member. However it will not succeed as he has the backing of the majority of the council and his party, he said.

When asked if his participation at the rally in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa being made the Prime Ministerial candidate in the next General Election, he said that he took part since he believed Rajapaksa should be the Prime Ministerial candidate from Sri Lanka Freedom Party under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena. SLFP members including Rajapaksa and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga should all join and take SLFP to victory, he urged.

Meanwhile, 15 heads of local government bodies in Gampaha District held a press conference yesterday, pleadging their support to Ranatunga. They said that Ranatunga was their leader in the province and if he is removed it will be a step towards destroying the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.