Wijesekara says he will stay in the UNP whilst being a UPFA Minister

The dissident group is to urge the President to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the United National Party (UNP), parliamentarian Mahinda Wijesekara told BBC Sandeshaya.

"We are meeting the President on Saturday evening to finalise the details," Wijesekara said.

'Implement' MoU

Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and UNP signed an MoU to work together to achieve peace and economic stability in Sri Lanka.

Dissidents say they will press ahead with implementing the MoU to find a lasting solution to the national question

But a group of dissidents argued that the UNP should join the government as the much hailed MoU was ineffective without sharing power.

The dissident group will still represent the UNP while sitting with the government, he said.

JVP and JHU

"I will still be the UNP Matara district leader and organiser for Weligama electorate. We will seek judicial remedy otherwise."

The group is led by former UNP Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya.

I will still be the UNP Matara district leader and organiser for Weligama electorate. We will seek judicial remedy otherwise Mahinda Wijesekara

Prominent UNP figures like Milinda Moragoda, Prof. GL Peiris, Rajitha Senarathne and Bandula Gunawardhene are among the dissidents joining on Sunday.

Wijesekara expressed hope that their joining the Rajapaksa administration would boost President Rajapaksa's "attempt to introduce a devolution proposal" as a solution to Sri Lanka's national question.

National government

UNP dissidents may help change the adverse effects if the nationalists leave the government as a result, he said.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Buddhist monks led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) supported Mahinda Rajapaksa at the November 2005 presidential elections.

Mahinda Wijesekara also expressed hope that the other UNP members may soon join to form a "national government" headed by Rajapaksa.