Coaliton partners : President Kumaratunga with JVP leader

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) say that it will abstain from voting when a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council (WPC) is debated on Tuesday, while the Peoples Alliance (PA) group have decided to oppose the motion.

"We informed President Chandrika Kumaratunga that the party will not to change our earlier stance," leader of the JVP group in WPC Waruna Deepthi Rajapakse told BBC Sandeshaya at the conclusion of two rounds of talks with the president on Monday.

We informed President Chandrika Kumaratunga that the party will not to change our earlier stance JVP group leader in WPC

The no-confidence motion against Reginald Cooray that carry 11 charges including corruption is presented by the opposition United National Party (UNP) with 39 members.

Chief Minister Reginald Cooray is facing defeat unless the JVP or Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) members vote against the motion.

36 councillors of the PA today gave their written pledge to the president on Monday that they will back the Chief Minister.

However, Mahesh Almeida from the PA group told BBC Sandeshaya that the four SLMC councillors vote is "crucial".

"If the chief minister doesn't get their support, the WPC will be in a crisis," he added.