Wimal Weerawansa decides to form new party

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 May 2008, 08:28 GMT]
The dissident group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has decided to form a new political party. The decision was taken at a meeting held on May 1st in Colombo with Wimal Weerawansa, dissident group leader in the chair as the current JVP leadership failed to meet the deadline issued by the rebel group to sort out differences among them before May Day. Ten dissident parliamentarians attended the meeting, reports in Colombo said.

The name for the new party, and its symbol would be decided at a later meeting to be held this week. Thereafter a formal application would be made to the Commissioner of Elections to register the new party, according to dissident group sources.

The parliamentary strength of the JVP before its split was 37.

Nandana Gunatilake, who was elected from Kalutara district on JVP ticket in 2004 general election, left the party a year ago and sitting in present parliament as an independent MP. Mr. Guntilake and some members of the Patriotic National Movement are also expected to join the new party.