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| Saturday, 7 February 2004 |
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| PA MPs urge President: Don't be misled by PM's somersault Political sources close to the UNF told the Daily News last night that according to latest reports emanating from Temple Trees, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe having seen the writing on the wall, that the UNF will receive a crushing defeat if there is a general election at this moment in time. He has done a somersault and has now indicated strongly that he was willing to withdraw his demand for the Defence portfolio and reach a settlement with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in a desperate bid to cling on to power. Sources said the PM's about face followed countrywide reports from UNP party branches and organisers, that if Mr. Wickremesinghe continues his confrontational policies and precipitates a general election, it will be suicidal for the UNF as it is currently very unpopular as a result of massive fraud, corruption, inefficiency, a soaring cost of living and a trail of broken promises made to the people. They pointed out that there was a near total breakdown of governance with the UNF's scant disregard for workers' rights and demands related to insecurity of employment, wages inconsistent with the high cost of living, large scale corruption at Ministerial level and the total disrespect for the rule of law. Meanwhile, People's Alliance MPs urge the President not to be misled by the Prime Ministerial somersault. They insist that reaching any type of consensus with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be giving him and his government a blood transfusion at a time when it is reeling and fighting for its life. The need now is not to strengthen the Premier's superficial peace process but to stop the UNF government's pogrom unleashed on the people and the country. The MPs also point out that the urgent need is to have a peace process as laid down by the President, which can safeguard the country, instead of one, which leads to a division. They said there is an immediate necessity to establish a strong Government, which will fight corruption, inefficiency and other ills and restore the rule of law, ensuring an era of peace, prosperity, racial and religious harmony. Another round in the three month long talks between the Director General of the Presidential Secretariat Mano Tittawella and UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema, known as the Mano-Malik talks are scheduled to be held on Monday. Political analysts are of the view that Monday's discussions will be decisive. It might well be the last. |
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