The rift between the SLFP and the JVP is widening with the government making a bid to secure the JHU’s support to the proposed alliance with the UNP, which would strengthen the Oslo-led peace efforts.

President Mahinda Rajapakse on Saturday met a top level JHU delegation at Temple Trees immediately after he discussed the forthcoming political arrangement with coalition members.

President Rajapakse and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Friday night agreed to work together for two years on six key national issues. They decided to go ahead with the deal leaving the contentious issue of sharing of ministerial portfolios aside. The UNP is sharply divided over this issue with Wickremesinghe opposing a power sharing plan which has the backing of the majority of Working Committee members. Wickremesinghe wants to back the government while remaining in the opposition. The Island learns that the government too is pleased with this arrangement as it would allow President Rajapakse to continue with the same Cabinet. It would not have been an easy task to accommodate the UNP as no one would have given up his or her Cabinet portfolios willingly.

Political sources said that Rajapakse secured the commitment of the coalition members to the proposed marriage. Minister D. M. Jayaratna, General Secretary of the Peoples Alliance (PA), Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), Minister D. E. W. Gunasekara, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Communist Party (SLCP), Professor Tissa Vitarana, General Secretary of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and Minister Ms Ferial Ashraff, leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) participated, sources said.

Subsequently the President met JHU leader Ven. Ellewela Medhananda, JHU parliamentary group leader Ven. Atureliye Ratana, Ven. Rajawatte Wappa, Champika Ranawaka, Nishantha Waranasuriya and Udaya Gamanpila.

The discussions focused on the security situation and the peace process, the sources said. The President emphasised that the national problem needed a negotiated political settlement.

The JHU reiterated its concerns that the LTTE would take advantage of the proposed negotiations under the auspices of the Norwegians. "They’ll take Rajapakse’s government for a ride," Ven Medhananda told The Island yesterday. If the President is not watchful the LTTE will use the proposed negotiations to strengthen its position both here and overseas. During Saturday’s meeting, the JHU emphasised that the government should press for a total surrender of arms, ammunition and equipment and an end to child recruitment. The JHU also emphasised that the government should not give in to the LTTE demand for the re-opening of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road and the disarming of breakaway Karuna faction.

Ven Medhananda said that the JHU welcome the proposed alliance between the SLFP and UNP. But this should be solely in the national interest, he said. "We hope the proposed alliance would not facilitate the Eelam cause," he said, expressing concern over the possibility of the international community using the unprecedented political arrangement as a tool to resolve the crisis to the satisfaction of the LTTE.

The JVP is under heavy pressure to review its strategy. Although the Supreme Court declared that the merger of the Eastern Province with the Northern Province was invalid and null and void and that there should be a separate Provincial Council for the Eastern Province under Article 154 (a)(2) of the Constitution, the JVP’s bid to block the resumption of talks with the LTTE failed.

The JVP too should be realistic and drop its long standing demand to abrogate the Oslo-arranged ceasefire agreement and end to Norwegian facilitation in the peace process, political sources said. The cancellation of the ceasefire agreement and kicking out the Norwegians would not be plausible. Such a course of action, the sources said would compel the international community to take punitive measures against the government.