Prov. governors told to resign

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked the nine provincial governors to submit their resignation by December 30, 2018.

Some of the governors had relinquished office as of yesterday while Western Province Governor Hemakumara Nanayakkara confirmed that there would be a re-shuffle soon.

Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray is also among those who resigned said the President would reappoint some of them while replacing the others.

A governor is appointed by the President for a period of five years and holds the position at the pleasure of the President.

In April 2018, the President appointed seven governors for the Western, North-Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-Central and Uva provinces.

Their term ends in 2023 while the term of office of the Northern and Eastern Governors end in 2022 and 2021 respectively.

The term of office of six out of the nine provincial councils have expired and currently under the governors' rule.

The tenure of the Western, Uva and Southern Provincial Councils will end this year.

Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and deriving its powers from the Provincial Council Act No.47 of 1987, a governor exercises executive power in respect of subjects devolved to the provincial councils. (Darshana Sanjeewa)