Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) sources say that two legislators of the party will declare they will act as independent MPs in parliament in the next few days.
Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) sources say that two legislators of the party will declare they will act as independent MPs in parliament in the next few days.
The two MPs were holding discussions with the government wishing to cross over and to assume deputy minister portfolios, UNP sources say. However, the government has not agreed to grant them more portfolios, sources said.
Instead of crossing over, the government has proposed them to sit in the parliament as independent members, a UNP spokesman said pointing out that the party can take disciplinary action if the MPs take on that course as well.
MP Dayasiri Jayasekara's name was mentioned widely in media as a person attempting to join the government. However, the MP has denied reports of his imminent crossover.
Minister Rajitha Senaratne recently said the government will make additional allocations for crossovers from the UNP, since they cannot be given ministerial or deputy ministerial positions.
He has said that 12 MPs and regional politicians from the main opposition party were presently in talks to join the government.
(CP)