The formation of a National government had to be discussed with all likeminded parties, the UNP said yesterday.
Public Security Minister and Gampaha District UNP candidate at Monday’s General Election, John Ameratunga said that the UNP was confident of forging an alliance with those committed to good governance and consensual politics.
The formation of the concept of a National Government has evolved from the new constitutional provisions found in Article 45(4) and (5) of the Nineteenth Amendment which became law on 15 May 2015.
Article 45(4) states that: ‘Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (1) of this Article where the recognized political party or the independent group which obtains the highest number of seats in Parliament forms a National Government the number of Ministers in the Cabinet of Ministers, the number of Ministers who are not Cabinet Ministers and the number of Deputy Ministers shall be determined by the Parliament.’
Article 45(5) elaborates that :’For the purpose of paragraph(4) National Government means a Government formed by the recognized political party or the independent group which obtains the highest number of seats in Parliament together with the other recognized political parties or the independent groups.’
With the introduction of this Article the concept of national government has been recognized by the constitution of Sri Lanka.
It is expected that initially President Maithripala Srisena in his capacity as the President of the UPFA will nominate 12 of his loyalist for the UPFA national list to parliament.
President Maithripala Srisena would also invite the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi and The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to join the national Government, sources further say.
Meanwhile the Tamil National Alliance leader R.Sampanthan has said that they would support a Government which would endorse the verdict of the people given in the Presidential election on 8th January.
“We will support the National Government which would endorse the silent revolution of 8th January – the peoples mandate for a positive change in the country”Sampanthan said.
