Final phase talks on SLFP-JVP alliance begin

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 16:31 GMT]
Final phase talks between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) began Friday evening around six at the Presidential Secretariat, political sources in Colombo said.

President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge who is also the president of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), chief constituent of the main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA), is presiding over the crucial talks expected to finalize a memorandum of understanding between the two parties forging an alliance, political sources said.

President Ms.Kumaratunge is leading the SLFP delegation with her brother Mr.Anura Bandaranaike who is aspiring to become the presidential candidate at the next presidential election, which is expected to be held at the end of next year, sources said.

General Secretary of the JVP Mr.Tilvin Silva is leading the JVP delegation. Mr.Tilvin Silva is tipped to be appointed to a key post in the new alliance, sources said.