JVP to contest presidential poll if talks with SLFP fails -Weeravanse

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 August 2005, 18:57 GMT]
Parliamentary group leader of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Permuna (JVP), Mr.Wimal Weeravanse said Monday that his party would support the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) presidential candidate Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, if he agrees to the conditions put forward by the JVP. "JVP would field its own candidate if the talks with Mr.Rajapakse fails to reach a consensus on our conditions," Mr.Weeravanse said, addressing a press conference in Colombo.

JVP's twelve conditions include the cancellation of the P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers in regard to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of coastal areas in the northeast affected by tsunami, and to stop the privatization of public sector organizations and education.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse has extended an open invitation for talks on working out a formula to obtain our support in the presidential poll. JVP politburo has decided to meet Mr.Rajapakse to seek his opinion about the conditions of the party, Mr.Weeravanse said.

JVP would only meet Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse and not any others in this regard, he stressed.