PA names team for UNP talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2001, 11:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s ruling People's Alliance (PA) Friday named its representatives to have political talks with the main opposition United National Party (UNP). The delegation included Ministers D.M.Jayaretna, Mahinda Rajapakse, Mangala Samaraweera, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Nimal Sripala de Silva and Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The Director General of the Presidential Secretariat for Media Unit Mr.Ariya Rubesinghe Friday said the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has written to UNP leader Ranil Wickremanayake in this regard on the instruction of President Chandrika Kumaratunge.

"The government has proposed that talks could be completed within four days time, commencing Saturday and ending on August 28," Prime Minister said in a letter to the Wickremesinghe.

The Prime Minister's letter was in response to a condition offer of talks by Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe following an invitation by the PM to the opposition leader suggesting that two major parties could form a “national reconciliation” government to resolve Sri Lanka’s present political crisis.

Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe accepted the Prime Minister's invitation saying that his party is prepared to have talks with People's Alliance on condition that priority should be given to the summoning of Sri Lanka’s suspended parliament, the cancellation of the postponed referendum and the establishment of five independent commissions.

The UNP Thursday named its four-member delegation to have talks with PA team Thursday. The members of the UNP team are -Mr.Karu Jayasuriya, Deputy Leader, Party Chairman Mr.Charitha Ratwatte, and Parliamentarians Mr.Tyrone Fernando and Mr.K.N.Choksy.