All party govt in Sri Lanka? Wickremesinghe initiates talks with opposition

Colombo, Jul 29: Sri Lanka govt has initiated a negotiation with opposition parties on Thursday (Jul 28) in an attempt to form an 'all-party' government in the crisis-hit country. Newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe has begun a conversation with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the talks are expected to complete in one week.

 

 

 

 

The main opposition party c) is not expected to join the govt. However, some of its MPs are contemplating joining the ruling side individually. The National Freedom Front (NFF) led by MP Wimal Weerawansa also sent a positive signal to the president yesterday (Jul 28), pledging support to him. MP Weerawansa said in writing the country is left with only two options, one to lead it down the path of an anarchical situation as in Haiti or to salvage it from the current mess at least at the last moment through consensus.

 

 

 

 

 

Weerawansa said the president had taken genuine steps to resurrect the country from the present abyss and therefore his party was ready to guide that exercise regardless of past political differences or enmity. The NFF submitted proposals for the president in this regard. The NFF supported MP Dullas Alahapperuma in the ballot for the selection of the president on Jul 20. Nevertheless, the party took a different stand when it voted for the emergency regulations on Jul 27 in Parliament.

 

 

The National Freedom Front had handed over a 12-point proposal to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In his proposal, Weerawansa outlined the important facts that have been proposed by his party to rebuild the nation. He further called for the establishment of an all-party government to address the various issues in the country.