by Namini Wijedasa
The People’s Alliance yesterday renewed an invitation for party stalwart Alavi Moulana to serve as Western Province governor after it became apparent that no one from their parliamentary national list was willing to resign in order to accommodate the former minister.

D.M. Jayaratne, PA general secretary, met Moulana yesterday morning and asked him to serve "at least temporarily" as Western Province governor, political sources said. However, Moulana turned down the offer saying his area of work was different. "I have always been a trade unionist," he told ‘The Island’ adding that taking up the offer would severely restrict his activities in the labour field.

Moulana was surprisingly left out of the PA’s national list, comprising 11 nominations, along with Lanka Sama Samaja Party member Batty Weerakoon. Weerakoon has filed action in courts. Moulana was subsequently offered the post of Western Province governor but declined.

PA sources later said that the party was willing to accommodate both Batty and Moulana provided that two other members from their list resigned. However, up to yesterday no such sacrifice was forthcoming, forcing Jayaratne to renew his offer to Moulana.