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PA-JVP show of force next month
By Harinda Vidanage
The PA and the JVP who are planning to forge an alliance following talks aimed at toppling the UNF government, are to stage a mass demonstration rally in Colombo scheduled for March 10.

The PA and the JVP held four rounds of informal discussions according to the chief Opposition organiser Mangala Samaraweera with the next round scheduled to be held on Monday.

According to sources from both parties this will be the first time they will be taking part in a joint activity in the aftermath of the talks. The SLFP source told The Sunday Times the SLFP would also for the first time lead the campaign where JVP is the major partner.

Mr Anura Bandaranaike has been given charge of the whole operation and a committee including Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse, Dinesh Gunawardena and Nimal Siripala Silva are assisting him.

Mr. Anura Bandaranaike told The Sunday Times that he has held discussions with all groups in the SLFP in organising this demonstration. The last week has seen intense discussions with many meetings of party organisers from all districts, provincial council members and pradeshiya sabha members.

Mr Bandaranaike also said they are targeting at flooding the city of Colombo with an estimated half a million people. This according to Mr. Bandaranaike will include 300,000 SLFP supporters and 200,000 JVP supporters.

The agenda of the demonstration will be a show of people power against the mismanagement of political and economic issues by the UNF government but the major emphasis will be on the ethnic problem and the completion of one year of the MoU which the SLFP and JVP alleges is a betrayal of the country.

The demonstrators are to converge on Hyde Park where a political rally would be held, with the leaders of all parties delivering speeches. The interesting fact is that President Chandrika Kumaratunga will not take part in the meeting. This according to SLFP sources is another strategic move to emphasise the position of Anura Bandaranaike who is also the coordinator of the whole demonstration.

JVP propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa told The Sunday Times that the JVP is having separate meetings with the SLFP regarding arrangements at the rally but would definitely take part in the demonstration.

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse told The Sunday Times that they were using the full might of the SLFP in this demonstration, while Dinesh Gunawardena said that this will be a major show of force against the Government.

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