Show the majority in parliament - President Challenges

The President is set to challenge the Joint Opposition by asking them to show a majority in parliament, Presidentś Office sources claim.

President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to take the step due to circulating media reports pushing for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be appointed as the prime minister following the results of the local government election.

However even if offered Mahinda Rajapaksa is said to have decided to decline the Premiership and instead hopes to call for the parliament to be dissolved and a general election to be held in the near future sources said.

The former President had made these intentions known during a media interview held on Saturday (10).

Meanwhile Sinhala daily ‘Ada’ has reported that Sirisena has agreed to the formation of a lone UNP government.

Sources say the agreement was arrived at during a meeting held between Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickramasinghe last night (11).

Meanwhile, UNP ministers are said to have informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that a United National Party government consisting of the UNP policies should be created immediately.

They had claimed it is impossible to be part of a national government going forward and therefore a lone UNP government should be established. Ministers have told the Prime Minister that this should be a government consisting of the UNP’s political vision and economic policies.

The two parties have the opportunity to create a separate government at any given time since the agreement between the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for a national government ended on December 31.