May 13, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided not to be a partner in the government of which Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Prime Minister and accordingly, the party will not accept any ministerial portfolios or other posts, said the chairman of the party, former President Maithripala Sirisena.

However, the former President said that if the Prime Minister and the Cabinet take action to resolve issues related to food prices, gas, fuel, electricity, fertilizer and drugs that have severely affected the people, they will support the relevant resolutions in parliament.

The former President said this addressing a media briefing held at the party headquarters today (13).

The SLFP has also received invitations from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to join the new government's cabinet, Sirisena said.

The former president also said that he had decided not to be a partner in the government as the process of appointing Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Prime Minister post had not been carried out in accordance with an all party government.

Mr. Sirisena said he could not support a government that is moving away from an all-party government, adding that he had always been with the common people.

The former president said that he would work from the opposition and work towards the future with regard to the leadership of the opposition.

Senior Vice Presidents of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Nimal Siripala de Silva, Parliamentarian Mahinda Amaraweera, General Secretary of the party Dayasiri Jayasekara and National Organizer Duminda Dissanayake were also present at the media briefing.