105 - 107 SEATS FOR UNP

105 - 107 SEATS FOR UNP

KARU SAYS THAT THEY WILL GO FOR A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

LOOKS LIKE SWEARING IN OF PREMIER POSTPONED

Official election results of General Election held yesterday are still being broadcast and according to official results

issued by 12 this afternoon, the UNP had acquired 61 seats, the UPFA too 61 seats, and the JVP 2 seats.

Whatever it is, when taking into consideration all results to be announced, hitherto the UNP has won 12 districts, the Alliance 8 districts, and the Tamil National Alliance 6 districts and with the bonus seats the UNP would  be able to amass a total of 105 or 107 seats , senior leader of the UNP, Karu Jayasuriya has mentioned. He further said that a discussion would be held in the near future and a national government would be established and also members of the Opposition is anticipated to be invited to join in for this purpose.

Though the present Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasingha was expected to take his oaths as the new Premier today, in case the final result is delayed to be announced this evening, that matter would be postponed for tomorrow or for Thursday morning on which occasion the Ministers too are expected to be sworn-in, it is understood. Before deciding who the new Ministers are, MPs who would be selected according to Preferential votes are to be decided and therefore the final selection of Ministers would take time, political sources say.

In the meantime, a person from the Opposition has to be named the deputy Prime Minister as suggested by the 19th amendment and for that purpose the name of Nimal Siripala, the former Opposition leader too has been taken into consideration, it is reported.