July 20, 2013, 7:33 pm

by Franklin R. Satyapalan

The decision of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to bar Members of Parliament from resigning their seats to contest the Provincial Council polls would not be considered an obstacle to EPDP leader, Minister Douglas Devananda or UNP parliamentarian, Dayasiri Jayasekera from contesting the forthcoming elections under the UPFA banner and Betel symbol, senior party sources said yesterday.

There are strong indications that Jayasekera could vie for the chief ministerial stakes of the North-Western province under the SLFP banner, the sources said.

But, The Sunday Island found no confirmation forthcoming from UNP parliamentarian Jayasekera, who continues to reject specuation of a cross over.Asked about his position, EPDP Minister Devananda said yesterday that following the outcome of today’s meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he would decide whether to resign his parliamentary seat to contest the North provincial elections with the objective of being elected Chief Minister.

He said that he would be fielding around 20 EPDP members and it would be a matter of hours for him to decide whether to personally spearhead the campaign for Chief Minister of the Northern Province by resigning his portfolio and combine the votes the EPDP receives with that of the UPFA to muster the required majority.