CWC to join ruling UPFA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 May 2004, 17:46 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a constituent of the main opposition United national Front (UNF), is likely to join the ruling minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). The party high command is waiting for the arrival of its President Mr.Arumugan Thondaman Wednesday who is now India to finalize the talks between the CWC and UPFA, CWC sources said.

Speculation was rife in Colombo political circles Sunday that two ministerial posts and two deputy minister posts will be offered to the CWC.

Mr.M.S.Sellasamy, a national list parliamentarian who is tipped to be one of the two ministers told media sources in Colombo Sunday that every thing will be finalized after the arrival of Mr.Thondaman from India.

According to the understanding reached between leaders of the CWC and UPFA, two ministerial portfolios would be offered to CWC. Mr.Sellasamy will be made Minister for Estate Infrastructure and Social Development and Mr.Muthu Sivalingam Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, media sources in Colombo said.

Mr.Faiser Mustapha and Mr.V.Puthirasikamany will be made deputy ministers, sources said.

As at present the CWC leader Mr.Arumugan Thondaman will not accept any minister post for the time being till the provincial council elections are over, sources said.

The talks between the CWC and UPFA to work jointly in the future proved successful last week when the UPFA government agreed drop the controversial Upper Kotmale dam project, which is estimated at a cost of 350 million US Dollars. Instead the UPFA government is exploring the possibility of constructing five mini hydro power plants, which would be more environment friendly. The then UNF government decided to implement the controversial Upper Kotmale dam project disregarding the opposition of the CWC leader Mr.Arumugan Thondaman that it would destroy the natural resources of the area, sources said.