Apr 29, Colombo: A decisive discussion will be held between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the independent parties at the President’s House this morning regarding the formation of an all-party government.
Political parties currently representing the government and the 11 parties which were part of the coalition government and left the government recently too become independent, have been invited for today’s discussion.
However, the group of 41 independent MPs who have left the government and became independent recently have decided to hold a separate discussion with the President.
The decision was taken at a discussion chaired by former President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence yesterday.
The independent party leaders have decided to formulate and present proposal to form an all-party government to the meeting with the President.
The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekara said his party has also decided to participate in discussion to be held between the President and the Independent Parliamentary Group.
However, the SLFP has reportedly decided to join the President's discussion on the appointment of an interim government only if Suresh Raghavan and Shantha Bandara are removed from their ministerial posts.
The decision was taken jointly by the SLFP Parliamentary Group and the Central Committee, SLFP Deputy Chairman, Independent MP Shan Wijayalal de Silva told 'Dinamina'.
He said that as the SLFP is also working with the 11 parties that have left the government, it will discuss with other parties in the independent group regarding the decision taken as a party.
He said that the President had convened an all-party conference at the request of former President Maithripala Sirisena, but the trust in the President had been shattered by the appointment of two members of the independent group as state ministers without consulting the party after the conclusion of the first discussion.
He said that the SLFP as a people's party has a strong desire to resolve the crisis in the country, but the party does not approve the President's action of fishing the MPs of the party with.