Sri Lanka's JVP to support PM in Presidential poll Monday, September 5 2005 14:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
Colombo:
Sri Lanka's main Marxist party today (Sept 5, 2005) aid it would support Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the Presidential election as he had agreed to scrap the tsunami aid sharing deal with the Tamil Tigers, adopt a new ceasefire agreement and review the role of Norway in the peace process.
The JVP said Rajapakse, candidate of the ruling People's Alliance, has agreed to their 12-point memorandum outlining the policies to be pursued by him if he won the Presidential election, to be held any time between October 22 and November 21.
"We have agreed to support the candidature of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse based on the present circumstances in the country. We will sign this agreement in five to six days," JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe told reporters in Colombo.
The JVP said Rajapakse agreed to completely scrap the controversial aid sharing deal with the Tamil Tigers, adopt a new ceasefire agreement and review the role of peace broker Norway.
"There are attempts by national and international conspirators to violate the sovereignty of this country. There are challenges to the sovereignty of the nation", he said.
However, he declined to say if the party would rejoin the Government following the latest agreement with the ruling party Presidential candidate.