(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the agreement between the United National Party led by him and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party led by President Maithripala Sirisena forming the national government is still valid and will continue to function.
“The national government will continue to function according to the motion passed in parliament. There is no need to quit it,” the Premier said in parliament today.
The General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stressed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United People�s Freedom Alliance have not withdrawn from the national government. He said the agreement with the UNP would continue and it has the parliament’s approval.
Chief Opposition Whip Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake however stated that a pact was needed. The government responded that such an agreement was unnecessary.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya insisted that it would not be an issue if the parties involved in the matter say that it is functioning. He said that if there is a need for an explanation, there will be the opportunity to do so.
The agreement to form the unity government of United People’s Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party under President Maithripala Sirisena and the United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was signed on 22 August 2015.
The continuation of the unity government came under clout after the two main parties of the government suffered a humiliating defeat at the local government elections held earlier this month.
