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Mahinda,
Anura in new battle for alliance posts
According to political sources, the dispute has delayed the announcement of the new alliance's constitution and the list of officials. They said the President on Friday met Mr. Rajapakse and Mr. Bandaranaike for closed-door talks to sort out the dispute. Reports said the deadlock continued and the President later met SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena for further talks where she brought up the deputy leader proposal. The sources said an earlier proposal for Mr. Bandaranaike to be the national organizer and Mr. Rajapakse the secretary of the new United People’s Freedom Alliance fell apart. Mr. Bandaranaike reportedly objected to the nomination of Mr. Rajapakse as secretary, claiming that Mr. Rajapakse did not trust the JVP and the JVP did not trust him. They said that as the dispute between Mr. Bandaranaike and Mr. Rajapakse continued, the President had even offered to step down and be the deputy leader. Other reports said PA general secretary D.M. Jayaratne was also vying for the post of secretary of the new alliance, on the basis of seniority. JVP propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said his party was awaiting the SLFP nominations while the JVP itself had decided to nominate Nandana Gunathilake as chairman of the new alliance. The names of the new officials were to be announced at the UPFA's first rally on Thursday, but hours before the meeting President Kumaratunga reportedly told General Secretary Sirisena to stop the announcement because she had learnt that Mr. Rajapakse was unhappy. In the list that Mr. Sirisena had on Thursday, Mr. Bandaranaike was to be the national organizer and Nimal Siripalade Silva the secretary. (Please see Political column by the same writer) |
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