SLFP- UNP 'marriage’ tomorrow

By Jayantha Sri Nissanka

The much awaited Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UNP and the SLFP will be signed tomorrow (Oct. 23) at Temple Trees. The MoU will address key national issues.

The signing of the MoU is expected to take place in the morning at an auspicious time.

SLFP Secretary and Minister Maithreepala Sirisena, now in Beijing will return to Sri Lanka today to attend the historic event scheduled for tomorrow.

The UNP last week submitted some proposals to finalise the MoU between the two parties. But the Government rejected some of them, such as to halt UNP MPs crossing over to the Government.

“We told the UNP delegation that crossover is a democratic right of MPs. The SLFP was formed after the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike crossed over from the UNP. If there was no such move by the late leader, the SLFP would not have existed today”, Minister of Power John Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer.

However, debates are going on in the UNP whether to accept portfolios or not under the proposed MoU.

The issue is still under discussion in the UNP. Some members are canvassing for portfolios while others seem to claim that the party should support the Government sans portfolios.

Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa held two meetings yesterday to educate PA coalition party leaders and the Jathika Hela Urumaya leaders on the proposed MoU between the UNP and the SLFP.

President Rajapaksa explained to the leaders how he is going to work with the UNP and also discussed on issues relating to the national question, peace process and the national security.