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SLFP appoints electoral organisers
By Harinda Vidanage
The SLFP is strengthening the party structure by naming new organizers, including the former controversial PSD chief Nihal Karunaratne to vital areas, in preparation for a possible snap poll.

Some 20 vacancies of party organiser posts are to be filed shortly and some of them have been already selected, party sources told The Sunday Times. The new organizer for Homagama will be world-cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga while SSP Nihal Karunaratne will take over Maharagama and controversial official Ratna Gamage Colombo East.

Meanwhile, the SLFP and the JVP are continuing high-level talks in a bid to form a broad alliance amidst growing speculation of dissolution of parliament soon. According to party sources, the JVP at the last meeting on Thursday submitted two drafts as the basis for a working arrangement in a possible coalition.

SLFP sources said the JVP proposals on the ethnic conflict included models for devolution of power with special focus on the Indian model. They said SLFP and JVP delegations were likely to visit India for first-hand studies of the Indian model.

Meanwhile, Presidential advisor Anura Bandaranaike said the party was also organizing massive countrywide black flag protests on February 22 to mark the first anniversary of the agreement between the UNF government and the LTTE. He said the SLFP would lead this demonstration with the full cooperation of the JVP.

Party sources said they hoped to get a crowd of about one million for the demonstrations, which would include a peaceful march to Temple Trees. Party observers noted that Mr. Bandaranaike was now playing an increasingly prominent role in party activities, apparently to boost his claim to the leadership over the head Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse.

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