UNP in the dark over NorthEast de-merger

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 14:02 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP), which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) giving top priority to solve the ethnic conflict, is in dark over the actions currently being taken by the Provincial Governor, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, to split the administration of the merged North East into two provinces, Colombo media sources said, quoting UNP General Secretary Mr.Tissa Attanayake.

Mr.Attanayake further said, until now Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has not informed anything to UNP leader Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe regarding the ongoing bifurcation of the administration of the merged North East Province.

This has posed a serious question mark on the implementation of the MoU between these two parties and has put the MoU in jeopardy, media sources quoted as Mr.Attanayake saying.

Not informing the UNP about the steps to de-merge the North East is a violation of the MoU, he added.

Peace process is unlikely to succeed if Mr. Rajapakse continues his current policy of satisfying the Southern hardline elements, and his government stands to loose the support of the international community, he added, according to media reports.