JVP’s discussions with the President and the Prime Minister on Monday centred on the need to co-operate to defeat both communal elements and grant relief to people.

In its meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the official residence of the Colombo Mayor the JVP delegation led by Wimal Weerawanse had pointed out that people countrywide had rejected communal politics. Analysing election results the delegation had pointed out that it was a small minority population living in the north and east of the country that had voted for the SLMC and TNA espousing communal politics, while the vast majority of the minority population living in Colombo and its environs had voted for the national parties, the UNP, PA and JVP.

The JVP has urged the UNP to bring the national parties together to distance the communal parties.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had told the JVP that his programme of action was three-pronged, to bring peace to the country, to improve the economy and reduce unemployment and to strengthen democracy. The JVP delegation cautioned that if the unity (unitary status) of the country was threatened it would work against any party that took this course. They had pointed out that the probationary government with the PA too had been formed on that basis.

Asked about the lifting of the LTTE ban, the Prime Minister had responded that this would happen at some point after talks commence.

On the reformation front the JVP had urged the PM to get the process underway to effect the provisions in the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, and for the setting up of a state media commission, including ITN and Lake House under its purview.

On the post election violence, PM Wickremesinghe had said that the Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya had been instructed to take necessary action.

A JVP delegation at meeting with the President on Monday ahead of its meeting with the new Prime Minister urged the former to desist from leading the country towards a constitutional crisis.

The two parties also decided that they should focus the attention of the new government on the need to continue with the process for democratic reform begun at the last parliament, and efforts to bring economic relief to the masses. They also reached an agreement to co-operate with the new government on these issues.

The JVP delegation at both meetings was led by Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawanse comprised of polit-bureau members Nandana Gunatilleke and Anura Dissanayake. The President was accompanied by PA General Secretary D. M. Jayaratne when the meeting commenced at 2:30 pm. Former ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mangala Samaraweera too joined later on.

Another issue of concern had been the post-election violence unleashed on political parties opposed to the United National Front.

The President had also informed the delegation that former PM Ratnasiri Wickremanayake would be the Opposition Leader in the next parliament. (SW)