Wickremasinghe leaves for Nepal, India

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 January 2007, 12:36 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), leaves Thursday on a nine-day tour to two countries, Nepal and India amid speculation in Colombo political circles that a group of dissident UNP parliamentarians are expected to be sworn in as ministers in President Mahinda Rajapakse cabinet during the weekend, media sources said.

Ranil Wickremasinghe first goes to Nepal and will be staying in Katmandu, till January 28 holding discussions with Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepalese Prime Minister, and other political leaders. He is scheduled to attend selected public functions.

The second leg of his tour starts on January 29. He is scheduled to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Congress President and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, opposition leader.

He is to attend the Indian Congress Convention to be held on January 29 and 30 in New Delh. Wickremasinghe is expected to return to Colombo on February 2 Friday.