All-party conference: President thinks Mahinda still has majority -- UNP swears

All-party conference: President thinks Mahinda still has majority -- UNP swears

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasingha, UNFA, UNF and representatives of minor parties gathered at the all-party conference held today at Presidential Secretariat with President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena taking the main chair. The JVP and Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya were absent at this meeting on purpose.

The assembly met together and shared cordial relations and it is learned that President took great steps to over and over again to settle the political crisis that has raised its head in the country. Whatever it is, even after two no faith motions have been presented, the manner in which President

spoke that there is confidence that Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group giving the impression that the latter still have the majority ... thus bringing a strak of surprise to the opposition parties who attended the discussion, it is learned. The accusation even now is, 'still the no faith motion has not been brought forward'.

Whatever it is, what the UNP responded on this occasion is that after bringing in two no faith motions they have no desire to bring it again. On the contrary they have spoken about the possibility of bringing a proposal to ascetain as to whom the majority in parliament belongs to. In any case, what President Maithripala Sirisena has said was, 'alright ... if there is a capability of doing so, give it to me in writing'. At that moment the United National Party has told President that that it would be shown with affidavits tomorrow that they have the majority.

Accordingly, the United National Party is expected to come to Presidential Secretariat tomorrow at 10 in the morning and show their majority. It would be alien activity where parliament is concerned. President Maithri has stated during the process of discussions that he was not awareof any act that took place by members of parliament of the Mahinda faction during the last few days. "I shall warn everybody to avoid fighting within parliament ...", he has said. Finally, party representatives have told the media after coming out from Presidential Secretariat that this discussion resulted in softening the issue further and that it reflects the disinterest of the President in coming into any settlement in any way. Some other representatives have said that it was expressed in aan indirect manner that President is in no way interested in dismissing Mahinda Rajapaksa from the position of Prime Minister.