The official who is also a lawmaker emphasized that there was absolutely no point in even discussing a national government with two countrywide elections—presidential later this year and parliamentary polls just over a year away.

The SLFP has repeatedly declared President Sirisena as its 2019 presidential candidate though the SLFP leader is yet to confirm him as seeking a second term.

Responding to a query, the MP said that President Sirisena had conveyed his position to the relevant parties and was of the view national government shouldn’t be pursued.

The SLFP-led UPFA quit the UNP led government on Oct 26, 2018 in the wake of President Sirisena appointing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Prime Minister at the expense of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The SLFP official said that there was nothing more to recent media reports pertaining to the UNP requesting Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to be appointed as Internal Affairs Minister. The official recalled how President Sirisena publicly ruled out ministerial portfolio for the Field Marshal on several occasions late last year.

The official pointed out that in terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, too, no more cabinet ministers could be appointed. The 19th Amendment restricted the number of ministers to 30 and non-cabinet ministers to 40.

Print media reported on April 11, 2019, the UNP deciding at a Temple Trees meeting attended by several senior ministers to request Field Marshal’s appointment as Internal Affairs Minister.

The UNP made an abortive bid in early February 2019 to secure parliamentary approval to form a national government with the SLFP. President Sirisena thwarted that attempt.

A confident leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella, in a letter dated February 01, 2019, informed the Secretary General of Parliament of the formation of a national government comprising maximum 48 ministers and 45 non-cabinet ministers, in terms of the Section 46(4) of the Constitution.

The SLFP official pointed out that the UNP was yet to prove that its parliamentary group enjoyed a simple majority in parliament four months after it regained the premiership following Oct 2018 political crisis.

Meanwhile, Colombo District UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman told The Island that a new national government was unlikely. The UNPer said that the backbenchers didn’t find fault with the party for reaching consensus with individual UPFA lawmakers to strengthen the administration, both in and outside parliament. However, there was no purpose in forming a national government at the moment, Rahaman said. The MP said that though they inquired from party seniors regarding recent media reports on forming a national government as well as Field Marshal Fonseka’s proposed appointment as Internal Affairs Minister, they couldn’t receive confirmation.

Responding to another query, MP Rahaman said that though Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe met groups of MPs during the budget debate, the UNP parliamentary group never met during that period. The UNPer emphasized the pivotal importance of keeping the UNP strategy on track without causing fresh turmoil.

Rahaman blamed the SLFP for triggering political chaos last October by President Sirisena sacking the legally elected government. Whatever the issues and disputes involving yahapalana partners, ‘constitutional coup’ perpetrated by the SLFP and the Joint Opposition couldn’t be justified, MP Rahaman said.

The UNPer alleged that they paid a huge price for working with unreliable SLFP.

With major elections scheduled for later this year and in mid-2020, the UNP should go ahead with its accelerated development programmes without being distracted by a fresh alliance with the SLFP at party level.

MP Rahaman welcomed consensus with individual Opposition lawmakers.
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