SLFP and UNP discussed their future government

Jul 24, 2017

Government sources said that some joint opposition members are in talks to join the government. According to government sources, the joint opposition members will cross if anyone from the SLFP in the government is taken to the joint opposition. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, meanwhile, said that the SLFP will begin preparations to face the Local Government elections from this week.

A group of disgruntled Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarians met President Maithripala Sirisena last week and discussed their future in the government.
Deputy Minister Nimal Lanza told the Parliamentarians who met the President want to sit independently in Parliament and take independent decisions.

Lanza, who was among those who met the President, said that they would hold discussions with all SLFP members and decide on the future of the SLFP marriage with the United National Party (UNP). He said that the President was told the unity government had failed to meet the expectations of the public.

Some senior SLFP members have decided to submit a letter to President Sirisena outlining the reasons for the need to withdraw from the government. United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary and SLFP member Mahinda Amaraweera said that no SLFP member has formally indicated they will be leaving the party.

AshWaru Colombo