No change in policy: President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared yesterday there would be no change in the policies of his administration after a group of UNP parliamentarians join his Government.

Addressing a meeting of the Joint Front of National Organisations at Temple Trees, the President said the UNPers were joining the Government accepting the policies that had already been enunciated in the Mahinda Chinthanaya,

His remarks came after a question was raised by lawyer and Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya leader S.L. Gunasekera, amidst reports that several of the UNP defectors were committed 'federalists' -- those who support a federal constitution.

JVP’s Wimal Weerawansa who represented the National Patriotic Movement raised matters relating to proposals to devolve power and the abrogation of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. President Rajapaksa replied that such matters would have to be handled taking into consideration the concerns of the international community and national interests.

Among the other organizations that took part in the meeting were the Patriotic Bhikku Front, the National Bhikku Front, the Ruhuna Bhikku Front and the National Movement Against Terrorism.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa briefed the participants on the current security situation.