Ex UNP minister joins UPFA government

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 November 2004, 13:18 GMT]
Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama, ex United National Party (UNP) minister, crossed over to President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Thursday, while the UPFA's maiden budget was being presented in Parliament. He was immediately sworn in as Minister for Advanced Technology and National Enterprises. The cross over of the powerful UNP Parliamentarian from the Kurunagala district has further strengthened the UPFA's position in the Sri Lankan legislature.

UPFA, which entered Parliament with six seats less than the "simple majority required to form a government (113), has acquired 122 seats with Bogollagama's crossover, an unassailable number with MPs from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (4), Ceylon Workers Congress (8), Jathika Hela Urumaya (2) joining the ruling coalition since May 2004.