Opp. parties, Govt factions make fresh bid for all party government

In a fresh bid for the formation of an all party government, the parties in the opposition, bar the JVP-led National Peoples’ Power, and some factions of the ruling side met in the parliamentary complex yesterday to discuss the way forward, but the event was marred by differences of opinion, Daily Mirror learns.   

In addition to the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the parties such as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Independent Group of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) attended the meeting.  

Also, the representatives of the 11-party alliance (the parties that remained aligned with the ruling SLPP) participated in the discussion.   

They put forth their views but could not reach any finality on the structure of the government to be formed by them.   
SJB leader Sajith Premadasa is reported to have said that there are no short term fixes to the current problems. He insisted on collective efforts to find long term and long lasting solutions.   

MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara who represented the 11-party alliance said the required number for an all party government could be mustered easily. He asked for initiatives to establish such a government as a result. SJB MP Kumara Welgama said it would be difficult to operate an all party government under current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.   

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran stressed the need to resolve what he called ‘the Tamil national question’ to boost confidence in the government internationally for support to revive the economy. He said there would be an avalanche of investments from the Tamil Diaspora once the national question was resolved.   

TPP leader Mano Ganeshan, in his remarks to the meeting, said a common governing mechanism had to be evolved to run the country during this trying time.   

The JVP has been invited for the meeting but none of its representatives has turned up.(Kelum Bandara)