Sri Lanka Opposition meet today

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, AUG. 16. Sri Lanka's Opposition parties have planned to meet in Parliament on Friday to press their demand for its early reconvening.

Parliament was prorogued by the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, on July 10 to avoid a no-confidence motion against her minority People's Alliance Government. The maximum permissible period for prorogation is set to end on September 7.

At a meeting on Wednesday, seven parties, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which is in talks with Ms. Kumaratunga for support to the beleaguered government, resolved to meet in Parliament to demand that it be reconvened at the earliest, and that it meet in regular sessions to debate the no- confidence motion and the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice.

The seven parties are the United National Party (UNP), the JVP, the SLMC faction led by Mr. Rauff Hakeem, the TULF, the TELO, the ACTC and the Sihala Urumaya.

The Opposition has also resolved to oppose any attempt by Ms. Kumaratunga to re-prorogue Parliament for another two months.

There is apprehension that if Ms. Kumaratunga fails to cut a deal with one of the political parties to tide over the no- confidence motion that is pending before Parliament, she might prorogue the House once again after the mandatory reconvening on September 7.

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Section  : International
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