Positive signal from Prez to break current impasse-speaker

TNA, SLMC support to UNP conditional

After his meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya reportedly told the leaders of the United National Party (UNP) yesterday that the President sounded positive in his approach to resolve the current political impasse.

However, it is learnt that the President had elaborated on what action he would take in this regard.

The meeting took place consequent to Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s statement in Parliament yesterday in which he had suggested that the President and the Speaker engage each other to resolve the current crisis.

The President is expected to hold talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the UNP separately this evening.

Meanwhile, the TNA and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had held talks with the UNP yesterday on the formation of a new government.

The TNA reportedly pledged their support to the UNP on condition that their long-standing issues should be resolved. However, it re-iterated that it would support the UNP in this exercise without accepting any portfolio in the government which is to be formed.

The TNA said its support would be conditional to the resolution of issues related to the transitional justice process, the release of prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the resettlement of war affected people etc.

Fourteen TNA MPS participated in this meeting.

The SLMC too had put forward conditions for the UNP to address with regard to issues concerning Muslims if it forms a government with their help.