Reports from Colombo say measures are being taken to establish a government led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which endured a humiliating defeat at the recent Local Government Election.
A Minister repenting the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) who spoke to the BBC Sinhala service said that Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva would be appointed as the Prime Minister of such a government.
He made these comments after a discussion between the President and SLFP ministers.
The Minister has reportedly said that the party is currently holding discussions with some Joint Opposition members who do not oppose appointing Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, a member of the Joint Opposition, has told the BBC that decisions have already been made in this regard. He has said that although the Joint Opposition has no objection to appoint Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as Prime Minister, they would not join the government. He further said that the joint Opposition while in the Opposition will not allow to topple a SLFP-led government.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, says that the party cannot accept a government with the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In a letter to the President Maithripala Sirisena, the UPFA general Secretary has asked the President to appoint a member who can win the trust of the majority in the Parliament as the Prime Minister and establish a new government. He has asked the President to allow the SLFP-led UPFA to do so.
In his letter he pointed out that the coalition government agreed for a two year period, but now it has expired.
He said that although it was difficult to arrive at a policy agreement on some of the decisions taken by the Prime Minister and the UNP during that period, his ministers honored the policies.
Minister Amaraweera in his letter states in his letter that it was not secret to the country that the biggest fraud such as the Central Bank bond scam took place with the Prime Minister’s knowledge instead of combating frauds and corruptions that were the main charge of the local government election.
In the letter sent to the President the General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance pointed out that the local government election results reflect the current mandate of the people due to the decisions taken by the government based on a policy in the opposite direction to the good governance and economic management while protecting the national identity of the country.
