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Dissent brews within SLFP over national consensus
By Harinda Vidanage
A crucial SLFP central committee meeting is to be held tomorrow to finalise the decision on forming an alliance with the JVP. But sources within the JVP told The Sunday Times that the JVP was concerned about the talks between the SLFP and the UNF and had decided not to take part in a national government.

Also JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake has brought a motion to the party's politburo that the lower rung of the JVP has been fed up with the delays that have hampered the SLFP-JVP alliance and has strongly recommended to quit the process if further delays occur.

The SLFP party structure has been hit by the dissent that has developed during the recent weeks as many senior leaders began to question the role of Mano Tittawella in the party. Also the SLFP stalwarts have pointed out that the 1994 peace process had been jeopardized when President Kumaratunga gave the responsibility to her close friends rather than the experts.

Likewise, the leaders are asking how a person who has had no interest in the party can be talking about its future with the UNF government. The Sunday Times learns that there is a possibility of the party splitting up as most SLFP MPs are threatening to go to the opposition if a national government deal is struck.

eanwhile, the UNF is reportedly trying to instal TNA General Secretary R. Sambanthan as opposition leader if the national government deal is brokered. This strategy is to prevent the JVP becoming the main opposition in the parliament.

Also a committee of SLFP MPS have decided to request from the President to allow a conscience vote for the SLFP members to join the national government and also a campaign has been launched to challenge the functions of Mr. Tittawella.

The Sunday Times learns that this campaign has the blessings of many leaders who are divided on other issues. They include opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse, Mangala Samaraweera and even stalwarts like Amarasiri Dodangoda.
The Tittawella-Samarawickrama committee has agreed in principle that a government of national consensus must continue for one year, naming it the "year of development".

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