Wimal, Gammanpila ready to form a government with Maithri

If President Maithripala Sirisena is ready to leave the coalition with the UNP, National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Prabath Gammanpila has expressed willingness to support a government together with patriotic SLFP, UPFA members under the leadership of Sirisena, according to Joint Opposition sources.

A JO spokesman explaining the reason for such a decision being taken said it was to prevent the country’s resources and lands being sold off to foreign countries and prevent the country from being divided.

He further said that JO leaders Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Dinesh Gunawardena had earlier stated that if Sirisena abandons his affiliation with the UNP they would be willing to join the President and current majority of the JO members have expressed the same willingness.

He added that while the JO has publicly expressed its willingness to join with the President sans the UNP, it is upto the SLFP members within the government to consider this proposal.

Expecting relief over allegations:

When we inquired from a government spokesman regarding the decision taken by Gammanpila and Weerawansa he said, MP Wimal Weerawansa was to be taken into custody on the 6th over allegations of financial fraud and their sudden change of heart is a ploy to get out of the allegations against them.

Further with the Good Governance agreement coming to an end the Patriotic National Movement has requested the President to delay no further and appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa or another person from the Joint Opposition as the Prime Minister.

He said this addressing a conference in Colombo while Ven. Elle Gunawansha Thera, MP Dinesh Gunawardena representing the JO, Prof. G. L. Peiris and Keheliya Rambukwella also participated.

Meanwhile, according to our political information sources, Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya is also behind this desperate attempt to form a new government together with the Joint Opposition parties under the leadership of President Sirisena.

The same source revealed that the Chief Minister had informed Wimal Weerawansa that in the event he is taken into custody on the 6th he would do everything in his power to assist him.