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Further split in UPFA: MEP, NUA say they are unhappy
By Chris Kamalendran
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the National Unity Alliance (NUA) -- two coalition partners of the government -- yesterday accused the UPFA leadership of deceiving them about the contents of the P-TOMS (Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure) before presenting it to Parliament.

“The explanation given to us about the agreement differs from the contents of the agreement signed on Friday,” MEP leader and Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told The Sunday Times.

He said the party’s central committee would decide over the weekend about the future role of the MEP in the UPFA government. “We were shocked when we realized that certain clauses in the agreement would be harmful to the sovereignty, security of the country and the people in the east,” Mr. Gunawardena explained.

He said that the issue of remaining in the government or not would also be decided by the central committee. NUA General Secretary Cegu Issadean said they were disappointed that the interests of their community had not been taken into account when finalizing the agreement.

“We have asked for an immediate meeting with President Chandrika Kumaratunga to take up some assurances she gave us,” he said. Mr. Issadeen said that though the Muslim community was the worst affected by the tsunami it had been treated indifferently in the agreement.

“We understand that President is acting under pressure from the international community and the LTTE,” he said. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also yesterday in a strong reaction condemned the agreement.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem called for an immediate review of the agreement claiming that the Muslims had been discriminated against. He said the SLMC would not take part in any of the committees, even if it was invited.

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