UNP pledges not to topple the government

The United National Party (UNP) said they would vote for a motion in the parliament on tsunami joint mechanism (JM), provided the government signed the deal beforehand.

Rajitha Senarathne, a leading UNP parliamentarian, confirmed that the leader of the opposition Ranil Wickramasinghe has promised to the president that the party would support her moves to introduce the mechanism.

Government’s coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is threatening to resign from the government after midnight on Wednesday (SLT) unless the president withdraws from the proposed structure.

Early presidential election

Senarathne told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala) , however, that the government has proved it cannot lead the country to peace.

The UNP is asking President Chandrika Kumaratunga to call for an early presidential election.

Trade minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai said the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is opposing every other option than war.

“No to sharing tsunami aid, no to a federal solution, no to interim self-governing council : what are they asking for ? go back to war?” the minister questioned in an interview with the BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala).

According to the minister, the JVP has refused a suggestion by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to produce the proposed JM before the parliament.