Opposition unites against Govt.

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, AUG. 17. In a show of strength, 113 parliamentarians of Sri Lanka's Opposition parties met in the parliamentary complex today to reaffirm their opposition to the prorogation of the House, and resolved to take up the no-confidence motion against the Government when Parliament reconvened on September 7.

The meeting was held in a committee room of the complex. Two members of the combined Opposition who could not be present for the meeting sent letters of support.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which was in talks with the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, for support to her minority People's Alliance Government, was present at the meeting and so was the lone Sihala Urumaya (SU) parliamentarian.

Unlike last month when police tried to prevent the Opposition MPs from meeting in the complex, this time there was no attempt to stop them from holding the meeting.

Amid fears that Ms. Kumaratunga might prorogue Parliament once again after its present period of suspension ends on September 7, the meeting resolved that the House had the right to determine its sessions and that such sittings could not be prevented in any manner. The meeting also resolved to take up the pending no- confidence motion against the Government and the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice on September 7.

Members also adopted resolutions demanding the cancellation of the referendum and condemning the Government for use of force on an Opposition demonstration that resulted in the deaths of two people.

While the combined Opposition has come together against the prorogation of Parliament and the referendum, it is by no means a united force, with its seven parties holding different and opposing views on important national issues.

For instance, while the three Tamil parties want talks with the LTTE and the ban on it lifted, the JVP and the SU are against it.

In another significant development, the entire complement of Deputy Ministers, 28 in all, offered to give up office and their seats in Parliament and handed in undated letters of resignation to the President on Thursday. This gives Ms. Kumaratunga a better grip over her party, especially in reining in potential dissidents.

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Section  : International
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