Commenting on the controversy surrounding a joint relief mechanism he said, "whether we like it or not more than 60 percent of the areas affected by the tsunami come under rebel control".

The deputy minister added that it is a reality that cannot be ignored if the country is to move ahead with rehabilitation.

When questioned about the opposition expressed by the JVP he said that opposing a joint mechanism is meaningless because the JVP has said that it supports devolution of administrative powers to the north and east.

Perera said, "the joint mechanism is also an administrative mechanism".

The SLFP has already pledged it's support for a joint mechanism with the LTTE, he added.

Responding to comments made by the JVP leadership on popular support for the joint mechanism the deputy minister said, "a majority in parliament including the UNP,SLFP,TNA,SLMC and CWC support a federal system while the JVP and some within the JHU who oppose it are a minority".

He said that this support in parliament represents nearly 70 percent of Sri Lanka.

At the commemoration rally of the 1971 uprising, Somawansa Amarasinha the Leader of the JVP stated in Anuradhapura last week, that in the event of a referendum only 20 percent would support federalism.

Deputy minister Perera described the JVP leaders statement as a "non-pragmatic miscalculation".