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CBK feeling the pulse
By Harinda Vidanage
President Chandrika Bandaranaike has initiated a series of meetings with all SLFP organizers, district organizers, local government organizers and MPs. The first meeting was held at President's House on Friday where representatives from Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Province were present.

The President had inquired from them what their opinion was on holding elections and wanted an immediate response from them. Of the 244 participants only one (former Minister John Seneviratne) had been against holding a general election.

The Sunday Times learns that no one had supported the idea of holding Provincial Council elections when the President had put the question to them. The group has inquired from the President the progress of the SLFP-JVP alliance to which she had replied asking them to be patient as it is a complicated process but she had pledged that results would come soon.

After returning from the SAARC meeting in Pakistan, President Kumaratunga had organized these discussion rounds to get the feedback from her party organizers of the opinion at grass roots and upper levels on quick general elections and on the SLFP-JVP alliance to be signed soon.

Tomorrow she is due to meet two more contingents. In the morning she is due to ask the same questions from 265 representatives from the Uva and Central Province. In the evening she will be talking to 200 representatives from Wayamba.

On Tuesday 200 representatives from the Southern Province and 331 from the Western Province will hold discussions with the President. A source close to President Kumaratunga told The Sunday Times that she will not be revealing her position on both matters of general elections and the alliance with the JVP but will receive the feed back from her party organizers. She will then subsequently organize a separate round of meetings with SLFP parliamentarians.

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