Nov 11, Colombo: Several opposition political parties in Sri Lanka have refrained from responding to the invitation extended by the President to join him in addressing national, political and economic issues.

Main opposition United National Party (UNP) has said that the invitation by the President was not genuine.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has noted that the government invites the opposition political parties only when it has failed after trying on its own and the invitation was made in order to cover its failures.

Meanwhile, the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has said the President had invited a nonexistent political party and not the JVP to support him.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath has observed that the President had invited a Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna, which does not exist.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his budget presentation invited political parties to join hands with the government to address the issues faced by the country.