JVP, SLFP discord widens

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2005, 12:33 GMT]
Relations between the two main constituent parties of the United people front Alliance (UPFA) government worsened with the Janatha Vimukthy Peremuna (JVP), the Marxist extreme Sinhala nationalist party expressing its displeasure over the Sri Lanka government's failure to involve JVP in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the North and East, JVP sources said.

According to sources the JVP was disturbed by the visit of UPFA ministers and opposition members to the East recently to map out large scale rehabilitation projects without inviting JVP MP Jayantha Wijeyasegara the only government representative in the area. This, the JVP claims, was despite the party leaders' recent warning of "drastic action" if this practice was to be continued.

Mr. Wijeyasegara who is also the chairman of the committee, which consists of government officials, and other representatives of the area appointed to coordinate tsunami relief, claimed the ministers and officials who visited the area did not even contact him.

"I have a right to participate in these efforts. The officials and Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) members are acting without a sense of responsibility," he said.

Sources said JVP is also furious that SLFP ministers coordinating the whole rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the East are working with the former SLFP MP who had lost his seat at the last general elections.

The JVP also expressed its concern that the government appears reluctant to include JVP in the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. The JVP, which recently accused the state media of bias and held discussions with media minister Mr. Mangala Samaraweera Monday.

According to informed sources JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva and propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa had complained that certain persons who are against JVP's rising popularity are controlling the coverage of the state media.