Rajapaksa and the JVP signed a pact before presidential elections

In a Wap Magul agricultural ceremony held in Nikaweratiya last week, Rajapaksa invited the JVP to join his government, at least in memory of those paid on their lives during JVP uprisings.

"The President either does not know the history or has not paid enough attention to what exactly happened," JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake told BBC Sandeshaya.

'In memory of' comrades

Over 60,000 people, majority of them Sinhala youths were killed during the late 80s as the then government crushed the uprising.

JVP's founding leader, Rohana Wijeweera, and many other senior leaders were among those who lost their lives.

President invited JVP to join his government for a year 'at least in memory of their comrades' killed in two uprisings

Current JVP leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe, has admitted the party is responsible for nearly 6000 killings.

"It is very naïve to think that we would be able to pay homage to our comrades and friends who paid by their lives for a better Sri Lanka by joining the Rajapaksa government for a year," Dissanayake, a former Agriculture minister under Kuamratunga administration, added.

'Spies and paramilitary leaders'

"It is surprising to see how we could do justice to those killed while those who worked as spies and those who led paramilitary groups are in Rajapaksa government".

42 parliamentarians who contested the 2004 elections with the main opposition United National Party (UNP) are now ministers in President Rajapaksa's administration, he added.

	JVP says former paramilitary leaders are currently serving Rajapaksa administration

In a statement issued by General Secretary Tilvin Silva, the JVP says the party is 'humbled and happy' to see that 'the JVP has become an indispensable factor in developing the country'.

However, while the JVP was having discussion on 20 proposals to develop Sri Lanka according to Mahinda Chinthana policy programme, the JVP says, the President invited a group of UNP dissidents to join his cabinet.

Military campaign

"It is not the JVP that kicked at the opportunity to work towards the betterment of the country through a proper policy framework, and opted to get the support of a reactionary group. We do not think it would be fruitful to invite the JVP to join the government now after it has been plunged into an economic crisis."

Parliamentarian Dissanayake added that the JVP has no objection over government's policy against the Tamil Tigers.

It is very naïve to think that we would be able to pay homage to our comrades and friends who paid by their lives for a better Sri Lanka by joining the Rajapaksa government for a year Anura Kumara Dissanayake

However, there should be a parallel political program to coincide with the military campaign, he added.

"The LTTE has forced upon the option of military campaign against our wishes. The military has offered a very clear answer to those who preached that LTTE will never be militarily defeated," Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

"However, the military campaing is not enough to develop Sri Lanka," he told BBCSinhala.com.

"The JVP is not prepared to join the government at any cost".