The United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have concluded discussions to take forward the coalition for another four years, UNP Parliamentarian and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella said today.
The two year agreement between the UNP and SLFP ends in August
Kiriella said that there have been media reports that the unity Government is on the verge of collapse.
However the Minister says the reports are misleading and that talks have already concluded on extending the agreement between both parties.
“It was the UNP which brought Maithripala Sirisena to power and so we have a right to protect him and a responsibility to protect the unity Government,” he said.
The Minister asserted that the UNP and President Sirisena have been given a mandate by the public.
He said that at the last Presidential and Parliament elections the public were given several promises and the unity Government will work towards fulfilling those promises.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Empowerment and Sri Lanka Freedom Party member S.B. Dissanayake said that there is no move by any SLFP member to leave the Government.
He said there may be issues in the coalition but that is natural and as a party the SLFP takes decisions based on the directions given by the President.
Dissanayake also said that some SLFP members in the opposition are in talks with the President to extend support to the Government.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
