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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
Former President Maithripala Sirisena
Leaders of the SLPP dissident group of MPs will meet with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning to discuss the all-party Government proposal.
The group decided to attend the meeting on condition that neither Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa nor any Cabinet Ministers would be present at the meeting.
The dissident group met at the official residence of former President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, following which they decided to attend the meeting with the President scheduled for 10 this morning.
The dissident group which claims they have over 50 MPs on their side want the Prime Minister to step down to pave the way for the setting up of an all-party Government.
MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara told reporters last evening that if the Prime Minister does not step down, he will have to face the indignity of losing his position by a no confidence motion in Parliament. The Prime Minister however says he is confident he has the support of the majority in the House and is willing to face an NCM.
At tomorrow’s meeting, the group will discuss with the President the modalities for setting up an all-party Government.
The President said in a letter he sent party leaders on Thursday that he wishes to iron out details such as the period during which such a Government will hold office and who would be appointed to such an administration.
Both the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (SJB) have ruled out any power sharing arrangement as long as the President remains in office.
