MS-MR nexus nets 8th UNP-er; Rathana Thera pledges support

The President Maithripala Sirisena and his new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have lured the eighth UNP-er to their fold. 

The latest to crossover yesterday was UNP National List appointee from Puttalam district R. D. Ashoka Priyantha, who was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Cultural and Internal Affairs and Regional Development (Wayamba).

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who secured a seat in Parliament via the UNP National List, yesterday pledged support to President Sirisena and newly appointed PM Rajapaksa.

Other UNP-ers to crossover include S. B. Nawinna, who was sworn in as the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Internal Affairs and Regional Development, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who was re-appointed as Minister for Education and Higher Education, Vasantha Senanayake as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Dunesh Gankanda, who was sworn in as State Minister of Environment, Vadivel Suresh as State Minister of Plantation Industries, and Ananda Aluthgamage as Deputy Minister of Tourism and Wildlife.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian S. Viyalendiran was sworn in as the Minister of Regional Development for the Eastern Province on Saturday. He became the first TNA MP to pledge support to the MS-MR nexus.  In response, the political wing of PLOTE has sacked Viyalendiran.