President to invite parties to wide political front

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to bring political parties that support the government without being in its ranks, under one umbrella and build a wide political front.

Soon after the conclusion of the Eastern Provincial Council polls, the president will invite these parties and groups to form the alliance that will primarily target the next general election, a senior government minister told 'Lanka Dissent.'

Leaders of the People's Alliance have had extensively discussions on this proposed political front.

Among the likely invitees to this alliance are the UNP Karu Jayasuriya faction, the MPs who have joined the government

from the UNP and the SLMC as well as the CWC parliamentarians, the JVP dissident group and several minority parties.

Once formed, affiliates of this alliance will respect decisions of the government and contest elections under a single party symbol.

They will also sit in the ruling party benches in Parliament, the minister said.

The president is expected to assign the new members to various electorates, replacing several SLFP electoral organizers.