UNP outlines guidelines

The main opposition UNP yesterday said it was not prepared to accept any form of a new devolution system other than the existing provincial council system and was ready to adopt a balanced foreign policy in developing ties with China, India and the West alike.

UNP national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who addressed journalists after a meeting with Janasetha Peramuna leader Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera last evening, said sticking to the 13th Amendment, a balanced foreign policy, scrapping of the executive presidency and introducing a system where a prime minister and a cabinet would be responsible to Parliament and depoliticising are the components to which all opposition political parties could agree to when it came to fielding a common candidate at the next presidential election.

He also said one set of law should be implemented in the North and South but the focus should be on any special issues faced by the people in the North and the East.

He said the common candidature should be given to anyone who was ready to adopt these policies.

Ven. Seelarathana Thera said his party would study the situation carefully  before deciding on supporting an opposition candidate at the next presidential election. The Venerable Thera said he was able to get into agreements on some issues in yesterday’s talks. (Yohan Perera)