SLFP-UNP next round of talks on Sept. 19

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) on Friday agreed to continue the discussions on a common national policy which will help to resolve the present crisis.

UNP, Deputy General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the 'Sunday Observer' that the sub-committee already appointed which is represented by Prof. G. L. Pieris and Malik Samarawickrema from the UNP and Ministers Maithripala Sirisena and W. D. J. Seneviratne from the SLFP will play a major role to draft issues pertaining to the future discussions.

The second and third rounds of talks will be held on September 19 and October 3.

The inaugural meeting, held on Friday was led by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, while UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya led the UNP delegation.

Attanayake said that he was unable to make further comments on the future matters to be discussed by the UNP committee at the next talks, since it is handled by two of their party members.

“However, the two committees will have to work hard to look into the common problems that have aggravated at present, he said.

When contacted, Prof. Pieris said that they had taken a decision to refrain from making statements to the media on various matters to be discussed by the two committees until they are forwarded to the next round of talks.