All major political parties struggling to remain intact

*Several MPs in the government ranks voiced their concerns and disappointment at the way they were being treated by the SLPP

*Ranawaka is already in discussions with Wickremesinghe and Welgama to form a common alliance

*Sirisena is also eying the leadership of a new alliance and is in talks with some political parties to contest a future election separately

All major political parties in Sri Lanka are presently struggling to remain intact and are likely to start splitting, with one alliance already to be named in early March signalling a split in the present government, the Daily Mirror learns.

The alliance which will be announced early March will be of 12 political parties who are presently with the government coming together as one alliance, while continuing to function with the SLPP. This includes some SLFP members and the parties led by Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara. The alliance is likely to be announced in the first week of March.

A split in the government was very evident when the co parties of the government were left out from the SLPP convention held in Anuradhapura last week. Several MPs in the government ranks voiced their concerns and disappointment at the way they were being treated by the SLPP and will now come under one separate alliance while continuing to function in the government. The second alliance under discussion is that of SJB MP Champika Ranawaka, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Kumar Welgama.

The Daily Mirror learns that Ranawaka has asked for the deputy leadership post from SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa who is yet to respond. Ranawaka has in the past not denied his intention to contest a future presidency and is already in discussions with Wickremesinghe and Welgama to form a common alliance. Some SLFP MPs have also agreed to join this alliance. Discussions are still underway and not finalized yet, senior political sources said.

Minority parties in the SJB have also voiced their disappointment at the SJB Leadership as they were promised the SJB would convert into a broad alliance and not function as one party, giving these MPs more recognition. However, this pledge is yet to be fulfilled by Premadasa. Some MPs representing the minority parties are now awaiting the formation of new alliances to decide their future. The third alliance in the offing is that of former president Maithripala Sirisena. Political sources said that Sirisena is also eying the leadership of a new alliance and is in talks with some political parties to contest a future election separately. (JAMILA HUSAIN)