The Chairman of the Embilipitiya Urban Council Wevelduwe Gnanapraba Thera, was temporarily removed from the post by Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath on Thursday (2).

Gnanaprabha Thera, a Jathika Hela Urumaya member, contested the 2011 Embilipitiya Urban Council Election under the UPFA. He received the highest number of preference votes (5895) among UPFA candidates and was elected Chairman of the Urban Council.

Gnanaprabha Thera is known as a strong supporter of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Following the departure of JHU from the former UPFA government late last year, Gnanaprabha Thera decided to support the government.