CWC leaves, govt. fumbling for survival options

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 October 2001, 08:45 GMT]
A senior cabinet minister of Sri Lanka's People's Alliance government, Mr.Arumugam Thondaman resigned from his ministerial post Wednesday. MPs of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) also resigned from their positions in the government. The CWC, a major coalition partner of the PA regime has four members in the house including Mr.Thondaman.

President Chandrika Kumaratinga's regime which has to face a no confidence motion against tomorrow, can dissolve the Parliament or prorogue it or call on the leader of the opposition to form the government. A fourth option for her would be to sack all the dissidents from the PA and appoint loyalists during the time the legislature remains prorogued, analysts said.

The President can prorogue Parliament for two months.

The other CWC MPs are Mr. Muthu Sivalingam, Mr. Ramaiah Yogarajan and Mr S. Jegatheeswaran.