UPFA to oppose National Government

• UPFA MPs to take up matter at group meeting in Parliament today

By Nuwan Senarathna

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is expected to oppose United National Party (UNP) efforts to establish a National Government when it takes up the issue during its group meeting which is scheduled to be held at Parliament today. 

 “We have never supported United National Party to form a National Government and we will not support in the future as well. This is a waste of public money,” UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena told Daily FT.

The Opposition MPs group meeting is scheduled to be held Parliament today with the Participation of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members prior to Parliament proceedings of the day.

Gunawardena charged that a National Government was being attempted only for the survival of UNP and its political ambitions. Gunawardena noted Opposition MPs would raise the matter during the Opposition MPs group meeting as well as in the House.

“We are opposed to increasing the number of ministers and United National Party yet to given a reasonable explanation as to why it needs to form a National Government,” he added.

He argued since the UNP has already formed a Cabinet there was no reason to form a National Government. He stated that it would be better for the UNP to concentrate on holding Provincial Council elections, rather than focusing on establishing a National Government as it was not in line with the expectations of the public.

Gunawardena said during the group meeting the Opposition would also focus on the delay of the Provincial Council election and the steps needed to take on behalf of the Opposition to expedite the process to hold the PC polls. He also went on to say that the Opposition would also expect to discuss the Budget 2019, which will be presented on 5 March.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris told Daily FT the decision of the UNP to submit a motion seeking approval from Parliament to form a National Government did not have any legal basis.

“The move of the United National Party is contrary to the letter and the spirit of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution,” he charged. However, when the National Government was formed in 2015 it was with the participation of the UNP, SLFP and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the 19th Amendment says that a government formed of more than one party can be considered a National Government. The two main parties do not have to join together for a National Government to be formed, according to experts.

UPFA MP Wasudewa Nanayakkara said Opposition would urge President Maithripala Sirisena to resist a National Government and hailed the President’s remarks on the National Government at the Independence Day celebration.

He argued that if the UNP forms a National Government with an MP who is already a member of the Government that could be contrary to the Constitution. However, Nanayakkara pointed out the matters regarding National Government should have been resolved within the Parliament.