29 July 2022 07:47 am
The government initiated negotiations with the parties in the opposition yesterday in a bid to form what is called ‘an all-party’ government.
According to informed political sources, talks are expected to be completed in one week. President Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). However, Daily Mirror learns that the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), as a party, will not join the government. Instead, some of its MPs are contemplating to join the ruling side individually.
In what appeared to be a new development in politics, the National Freedom Front (NFF) led by MP Wimal Weerawansa sent a positive signal to the president yesterday, pledging support to him
Mr. Weerawansa said in writing that there are two options before the country today - to lead it down the path of an anarchical situation as in Haiti or to salvage it from the current mess at least at the last moment through consensus.
He said the president had taken genuine steps to resurrect the country from the present abyss and therefore his party was ready to guide that exercise regardless of past political differences or enmity.
The NFF submitted proposals for the president in this regard. The NFF supported MP Dullas Alahapperuma in the ballot for the selection of the president on July 20. Nevertheless, the party took a different stand when it voted for the emergency regulations on July 27 in Parliament. (Kelum Bandara)