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JVP gives deadline to SLFP
By Harinda Vidanage
The JVP has accused the SLFP of adopting a "delaying tactic" by holding talks with the UNP and given another ultimatum, that of January 2004, for the SLFP to strike an alliance with the JVP.

The Sunday Times learns that the SLFP is still waiting for a result from the Mano-Malik committee talks which are scheduled to resume early next month. The JVP leadership believes the proposed alliance has become not the primary but the alternative strategy of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Meanwhile, LSSP General Secretary Batty Weerakoon told The Sunday Times his party felt the SLFP was not taking the alliance seriously because of practical problems.

The LSSP had sought clarification from the President on contradictory views expressed by the SLFP and the JVP in a recent MoU, and her failure to respond had made the party believe she was not very serious about the proposed alliance with the JVP, Mr. Weerakoon said.

At the last meeting between the President and the JVP leadership, they asked the general secretaries of the two parties to work out the timing and other procedures to finalise the alliance.

SLFP sources said their party secretary was preparing a structure for upcoming provincial elections after meeting those seeking nomination for provincial elections. But the JVP leadership has come out against any moves to use provincial polls as a lab test for the proposed alliance.

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