UNP lays down conditions for forming coalition in EPC

By Ravi Ladduwahetty

The United National Party has laid down several conditions, for forming a coalition in the Eastern Provincial Council, as there had bben no clear cut winner, with over 50 per cent of the votes, to form a provincial government, the party said.

"It is patently clear that there is no party which has a clear working majority in the Eastern Provincial Council, so there is the necessity to form a coalition and we have decided on the criteria if any party wants to form a coalition with the UNP, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference yesterday.

He also said that the UNP would support any party which opposes the government and some of the other criteria would be: the maintenance of a unitary character of the State along with the sovereignty of the nation, democracy and good governance. The UNP would also insist that there were enhanced allocations for free health and education.

Meanwhile, the UNP has appointed a Committee, headed by Daya Pelpola PC, and comprising vice Chairman Milroy Perera, Suranimala Rajapakse, Attorney-at-Law Gowri Thavarasa and Azmy Thassim to make recommendations towards radical reforms which Opposition and Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe announced at the 66th anniversary celebrations of the Party.

"This committee would submit its report within the next fortnight and will also take into account the success of the party in the grassroots at the just concluded PC polls where votes were increased," he said.

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