SLFP proposes modalities for working with UNP

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which met on Friday (August 28), has appointed a five- member committee to formulate a mechanism to ensure a working environment for the SLFP and the United National Party (UNP), in a national government to be formed soon after the swearing-in of the new Cabinet next week.

The committee comprising S.B. Dissanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya will devise the means of facilitating the national government and provide for mechanisms to avoid confrontation and collusion between the two parties, a SLFP senior told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

He said, the committee will hold discussions with the UNP tomorrow (August 31) to adopt a joint mechanism to conduct the affairs of the national government in a meaningful manner that meets public expectations.

The committee will also issue a joint statement to this effect. As one of the priorities, the committee will educate the members of the two major parties on the workings of the national government and clarify roles and responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the SLFP Central Committee has also appointed a five- member committee of its own, comprising former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, S.B. Dissanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala and Mahinda Samarasinghe, to reorganizing the SLFP branch organizations and lead a membership drive.