3 more UNP parliamentarians likely to join UPFA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 2010, 15:33 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) issued an ultimatum Sunday to Sri Lanka government to release the proposals on constitutional reforms and the 17th amendment and to reconsider its decision to abandon further talks with Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, amid Colombo media reports that three more UNP parliamentarians are likely to join the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) soon. They are discussing with ruling party hierarchy to join the government, media reports added.

The UNP had Saturday decided to suspend talks with the government on constitutional reforms claiming that it was using the talks to draw opposition members to the government side.

The government now has 146 of the 225 seats with the cross over of Praba Ganeshan and P. Digambaram and the number will be raised to 149 with expected defections.

The government needs 150 MPs for a two-third majority.

Kandy District UNP parliamentarian Abdul Cader has shown his support to Sri Lanka government by voting for the emergency regulations.

The UNP suspended Cader from the party's Working Committee last month for voting with the government.