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Back to numbers game in House
The UPFA is heading for the status of a minority government after a threat from the JVP to quit the government by June 15, if the President fails to withdraw the proposed Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS).

The Sunday Times learns that the UPFA is making its own calculations to run the government without the support of the 39 JVP MPs. The moves came as President Kumaratunga assured Mahanayaka Theras that she would not reach a final decision about the P-TOMS without consulting them.

But, the President in her letter to the Mahanayaka Theras has given no indication that the proposed structure would not be set up. Another round of talks was being held by the President with the Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven. Rathanapala Buddharakkitha Thera yesterday. He was flown by the Sri Lanka Air Force from Kandy for the meeting.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa declined to disclose the next move of the party after withdrawing its support from the government on Thursday, if the P-TOMS is not withdrawn. The government would be reduced to 79 MPs in the event of the withdrawal of support from the JVP.

The 79 members would include the 13 members from other parties which are supporting the government. They are the CWC 8, SLMC 4 and Rohitha Bogollagama (UNP). The support of two dissident JHU Parliamentarians is also being canvassed.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which has 22 members in Parliament yesterday remained non-committal about its stand in the event of the withdrawal of the JVP from the government. "We do not want to comment on this issue until the JVP leaves the government.

We have uncertainties about that," TNA Parliamtary group leader R. Sampanthan told The Sunday Times.

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