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Mahaweli dispute: Compromise closer
By Harinda Vidanage
The UPFA at a crucial meeting of its executive committee today will try to work out a compromise on the portfolio crisis with President Chandrika Kumaratunga taking over the Mahaweli Development Ministry to end the stand-off between the SLFP and the JVP, government sources said.

The Sunday Times learns that under this compromise arrangement, a JVP nominee will be the deputy minister of Mahaweli Development. They said tomorrow's meeting would be crucial and a compromise was likely in the aftermath of the setback suffered by the UPFA in Thursday's bruising battle for the election of the Speaker.

The compromise was proposed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Minister Mangala Samaraweera, but the President had not agreed to it. The sources said senior members would urge her to accept the compromise and thus enable the four JVP ministers and four deputy ministers to be sworn in.

On Friday SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena assumed duties as the River Basin Development Minister with Mahaweli under his purview. Mr. Sirisena has expressed willingness to sacrifice the subject of Mahaveli for the sake of UPFA unity, while Premier Rajapakse whose appointment was strongly opposed by the JVP is now playing a key role in working out a compromise between the SLFP and the JVP.

Meanwhile, the JVP has criticised the stance of sections of the state media during the standoff and demanded that attacks on the party be stopped immediately.

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