We are for 20A but cannot accept UNP model; Mano

The leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan today said that his alliance supports the spirit of 20th Amendment but will not agree to the FPP 125+ DPR 75 + NPR 25 formula which was agreed upon at the cabinet yesterday evening. 'Our deputy leader minister Palani Thigambaram has categorically registered his opposition to this new formula at the cabinet yesterday. ' he said. TPA is the new alliance formed with Democratic People’s Front led by Mano Ganesan, Workers National Front led by cabinet minister Palani Thigambaram and Up-Country Peoples Front led by state minister V. Radhakrishnan. 'An urgent meeting of the Assembly of Minor Parties (AMP) is called on Thursday to discuss the latest developments. Until Monday morning we discussed the 20A based on the document submitted to the cabinet and party leaders by the president. The formula in the presidential document is FPP 165+ DPR 31+ NPR 59 to a total of 255. But suddenly to the surprise of all of us the formula has changed.' he said. The spirit of 20A is to cut down the preferential vote system and bring back the system of MPs for every electorates. We are for these changes. The presidential proposal reasonably addresses minority concerns too. The minorities were assured that new single member and multi member electorates will be carved out by the delimitation commission. The number 165 was arrived at as the FPP electorates to accommodate new single member and multi member electorates. The new formula with FPP 125 dismisses all hopes. It is because with 125 FPP seats we cannot we cannot create new electorates. Minorities who played lead role in forming this government are disappointed with the new formula. 'Prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has forwarded this formula to the cabinet. I today spoke to prime minister on this and expressed our stance to him. He told me that he forwarded this formula to the cabinet not as a UNP formula but a balancing formula between various proposals. And he said he has already informed president that minorities are not in favor to this formula and suggested for a presidential discussion with minority parties. TPA is looking forward to meet the president too on this today or tomorrow.'