Apr 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) main faction today responded to the May 1 deadline given by its dissident group leader Wimal Weerawansa to have talks, saying that the group will be expelled from the party.

Speaking at a media briefing Party Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the dissident group can form a new political party if it desires to do so but the JVP will not abide by any deadline imposed by them.

“According to the party constitutions they (the dissidents) will lose the party membership”, he said. “If they have so much of desire to form a new political party, they should not relate that to the present problem within the party,” he added.

He further said that MP Weerawansa’s whereabouts or contacts are presently not known so that the party representatives cannot contact him even if they want to. “He can come to the party office at Pelawatte even this evening, we are available,” he added.

Regarding the party’s future course of action, Mr. Silva said that JVP would join hands with all other anti government movements to topple the present government as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, JVP municipal council member for Horana, Chulani Hewawasam today resigned from all his posts and withdrew his party membership saying that he is ashamed of the present internal problems in the party.