Two leaders met to discuss the proposed tsunami joint mechanism

In a one-to-one meeting held on Monday, opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has warned the president that delaying a decision on the structure will further deteriorate the situation in the country which is already in an unstable position.

United National Party (UNP) is awaiting the president’s decision to take a clear stand, Wickramasignhe has said.

The party has already informed its policy in a letter sent in May, he has informed the president.

Part of a peace process

Two leaders met at the president’s official residence at 10GMT to discuss the proposed tsunami joint mechanism (JM) between the government and the Tamil Tigers.

A statement issued by the presidential secretariat said the president explained to Wickremasinghe “some details regarding the proposed Council”.

Mechanisms for the North-East will be possible after the Government’s discussions with the LTTE UNP policy statement

The president agreed to keep the leader of the opposition and the UNP briefed about the ongoing situation, it said.

The UNP says it will support any solution based upon Tokyo and Oslo declarations within a united Sri Lanka.

In a letter sent in May to the president, Wickramasinghe said the donors and the co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference “have invariably linked the implementation of any joint programme of assistance to the tsunami affected areas of the North and East to the peace process”.

However, in a policy statement sent to the president in January 2005 titled “ Making Rehabilitation Programmes People Centred” the UNP has argued local level community development activities should not necessarily be a part of the peace process.

“Mechanisms for the North-East will be possible after the Government’s discussions with the LTTE,” the policy statement said.