News

Carrying a message from prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the prevailing political crisis, minister Mangala Samaraweera met president Maithripala Sirisena at the latter’s official residence at Paget Road, Colombo on the night of November 26, political sources say.

There, minister Samaraweera expressed the desire of the premier and the UNP to continue the government until 2025 as per the agreement they reached with president Sirisena in 2015.

Conveying their confidence in the president, he, however, noted the difficulty in continuing that alliance if the SLFP joined with the joint opposition, according to the sources.

130 MPs to support UNP govt.

Meanwhile, meeting the president in Kandy, minister Malik Samarawickrema informed him the UNP would have to form a government of its own if there would be an union between the SLFP and the JO.

The UNP presently has 107 seats in parliament, and it is prepared to show a strength of 130 seats, he stressed.

But, the UNP will not expect support from its appointed MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, he added.

The United National Party (UNP) was ready to work with anyone willing to uphold Good Governance and to mutually strengthen electoral prospects, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

President Maithripala Sirisena left the country today and is scheduled to arrive in Seoul tomorrow (28) for a three-day state visit to Republic of Korea, on an invitation extended by the Korean President Moon Jae-in.