Harin Fernando will resign from Parliament on August 05 to contest the Uva Provincial Council election as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the United National Party.

His main opponent will be Shasheendra Rajapaksa, son of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the present Chief Minister of the Uva province.

Fernando has received permission from the UNP Leadership Council as well as from the Working Committee of the party to be the Chief Ministerial Candidate of the Provincial Council election.

However, it is learnt that the UNP has promised to reinstate Fernando as a Parliamentarian if he fails to become the Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council.

Harin Fernando will contest the Uva Provincial Council from the Badula district while Shasheenda Rajapaksa, the present Chief Minister, is planning to contest from Moneragala district.