The President has decided to replace the Chief Ministers in the provinces except Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s son, Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, a senior official from the SLFP headquarters said.

The President is looking at getting persons loyal to him elected as Chief Ministers in the provinces since he is contemplating holding a Presidential election in 2014.

The President has decided to get MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena appointed as the Chief Minister of the Southern Province.

Deputy Ports Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena meanwhile has told MP Namal Rajapaksa recently that he was willing to become the Western Province Chief Minister.

However, the President has decided not to name chief ministerial candidates of the UPFA at the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections. The plan is to appoint two members from Namal Rajapaksa’s Tharunyata Hetak organization.