Reginald Cooray was replaced by another PA member of the council

Peoples Alliance (PA) member of the Western Provincial Council (WPC) Nandana Mendis has sworn-in as the Chief Minister on Wednesday evening with the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

The JVP, who resigned from the governing United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) last week, said their support to the new chief minister should not be taken for granted.

JVP group leader of the WPC Varuna Deepthi Rajapakse told BBC Sandeshaya earlier that the party would support PA candidate for the post of Chief Minister provided the government do not sign the controversial deal to share tsunami relief aid.

JVP conditions

“The Chief Minister should also change controversial education reforms carried out by the former Chief Ministrer,” he told Elmo Fernando.

Reginald Cooray, a close confidant of President Kumaratunga, resigned on Sunday as the JVP refused to oppose a no-confidence motion produced by the main opposition United National Party (UNP).

It is not clear whether the JVP is to accept portfoios in the new administration.

The UNP earleir claimed to have enough support to form a new administration in the WPC.

Kumaratunga lost the parliamentary majority on Thursday as her attempts to establish a joint mechanism (JM) with the Tamil Tigers for tsunami reconstruction has been strongly opposed by the JVP.

The JVP earlier entered into an alliance, widely known as ‘Parivasa’, with the PA in an attempt to avoid UNP gaining the control in the parliament in 2001.