With elections to the WPC set for April 25, former WPC Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has launched a poster campaign seeking the chief ministerial post. Although newcomer Thilanga Sumathipala and former WPC Chief Minister Reginald Cooray have both indicated their desire for the top post, Ranatunga had asserted his right to take over the province.

Cooray recently vowed that he wouldn’t give up his claim for the post amidst heavy speculation that Sumathipala who switched allegiance to President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently, too, wants the post.

Well informed sources said that the President’s final decision would largely depend on the number of preferences bagged by each contestant.

They said that apparent differences between the SLFP leadership and Prasanna’s brother, Arjuna, who recently quit the post of Kotte organizer, shouldn’t affect his chance of being Cooray’s successor.

Ranatunga who contests the Gampaha District yesterday told The Sunday Island that his success would entirely depend on the support extended by voters by the way of preference votes.

The post of the Chief Minister had been held by politicians representing Kalutara and Colombo districts for 19 years, he noted, adding that former SLFP leader Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga from the Gampaha district led the province for one year.

Cooray has said he should not be denied the chief ministry as all former chief ministers of the North Central, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Wayamba had been re-appointed.