Speaking at a news conference yesterday, he said that he did not have a negative attitude towards such talks between the two parties. "Normally, there is hate politics between the parties. Yet, I would like to look at this matter from a positive point of view. I believe any outcome of such talks should be in the greater interest of the people. I welcome any step that leads to consensus politics," the UNP MP said. Asked about the political risk involved in such talks with the government, he said in a lighter vein that every political move involves risks some way or other. (Read More)

An influential section of the UNP fighting to oust Wickremesinghe believes the beleaguered Opposition Leader is seeking a lifeline from President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government amid a bid to remove him. Political sources said that this was not the first time that President Rajapaksa had stepped-in to help Wickremesinghe’s hand during an internal crisis.

The main opposition UNP yesterday said its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would soon begin discussions with all parties representing Parliament on changing the Constitution and replacing the Executive Presidency with a Prime Minister responsible to the legislature.UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference that the objective of these talks would be to build up a common stand on Constitutional Amendments.

However Mr. Attanayake said President Mahinda Rajapaksa would also have talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) separately.

He said the current focus on the talks with the government is on the proposed amendment of the local government electoral system. UNP General Secretary said several ideas have propped up regarding this, while a mixed system was more likely. However no final decision had been made on the issue. Mr. Attanayake said the stand of the minority parties which claim their right to represent the people would diminish if the current proportional representation system is replaced with the ward system and with likely moves to introduce a mixed system. (Read More)

The government and the main opposition UNP yesterday agreed to introduce a new electoral system for local government elections before the end of this year. The system will be a mixture of the First-Past-the-Post System and the Proportional Representation System. 

Govt, UNP

Bipartisan talks on this were held yesterday at the residence of Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa outlined the proposals of the draft Bill at the meeting. According to the proposed system, the number of members elected to the local government administration will be doubled. (Read More)

The government and the United National Party yesterday agreed to discuss a series of electoral and constitutional changes including the creation of an Executive Prime Ministership to replace the Executive Presidency.

Asked if he believed Rajapaksa was serious about replacing the Executive Presidency with an Executive Prime Ministership, Wickremesinghe said that they had agreed in principle to discuss electoral and constitutional changes. But how far the talks would progress was left to be seen, he said. (Read Moe)

The UNP yesterday launched the first of what would be a series of protests islandwide in order to urge the Government to give up its decision to amend the constitution in order that lengthen indefinitely the number of terms an incumbant president can serve. 

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who inaugurated the protest campaign said, “A series of protests would be held countrywide based on three demands and will continue until the government implements decisions favourable to the masses.” Spelling out what these three demands would be he said it is firstly to urge the government to prepare a constitution favourable to the masses, secondly to force the government to reduce taxes and increase the wages of the people, and thirdly to demand the release of Army Commander (Retired) General Sarath Fonseka while they would also demand that the government deals with KP according to the law. (Read More)

UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday demanded that the government explain the circumstances leading to Tuesday’s siege on the UN mission in Colombo by the National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent party of the SLFP-led UPFA coalition.

Severely criticizing the government for failing to protect the UN mission, MP Wickremesinghe warned the UPFA that many ministries, including Health and Child and the Women’s Affairs ministry would not be able to function without the support of UN agencies. "How could they work if you obstruct them?" he asked. (Read More)

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that the provisions in the Fire Arms Ordinance must be amended to enable the Courts of law to allow bail for Members of Parliament and Provincial Councillors who are behind bars.

The main opposition UNP has decided to bring a no-confidence motion against External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris shortly after the committee stage debate on his Ministry.

Political sources said that the motion would be moved in Parliament because of what the party cited as the “failure on the part of Prof. Peiris to prevent the appointment of UN expert panel” to advise Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on alleged human rights violations during the last phase of war in 2009.The party would take Prof. (Read More)

The six member committee appointed to look into the re-organisation of the United National Party (UNP), has stated in its report that an election would be held to elect office bearers of the party only if the suitable persons could not be appointed by consensus.

The report of the committee is expected to be handed over to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today. The report had stated that past precedents should not be changed at any rate.

Although it had been proposed that a vote be taken by parliamentary group members and members of the party’s working committee to elect suitable persons to top posts, there was no agreement reached if they would do so even by yesterday afternoon. (Read More)