The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is considering the possibility of extending conditional support to the United People’s Freedom Alliance government while continuing to sit in opposition.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said at a public meeting in Puttalam on Friday that his party would not join the government but may back the UPFA on an issue-by-issue basis while sitting in opposition.

Meanwhile, the Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday denied reports that they had held a series of joint discussions with Ceylon Workers’ Congress leader Armugam Thondaman and the SLMC.

A news report said last week that the SLMC was holding talks with the JHU and CWC in a bid to reach a common consensus. It also said that JHU propaganda secretary Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka and CWC leader Armugam Thondaman were taking part in the talks.

Thondaman was not available for comment as he is out of Sri Lanka.

JHU parliamentarian Ven. Athuruliye Ratana told the Sunday Island they had not held talks with either party. He confirmed, however, that the JHU parliamentarians would be meeting former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today, for what he said was "an exchange of views on respective policies".