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New alliance prompts PA MPs to cross over 

By Jamila Najmuddin 

With the announcement of snap general elections, pole-vaulting has begun in earnest with the caretaker UNF government being likely to benefit with the crossing over of eight former PA parliamentarians into its fold.

The likely crossover candidates are former PA cabinet ministers, Ronnie De Mel, Jeyeraj Fernandopulle, A. H. M. Fowzie and Salinda Dissanayaka along with former parliamentarians Thilina Bandara Tennakoon, Mallika de Mel and Sarana Gunewardena.

Already, former JVP strongman and PA Deputy Minister, Athula Nimalasiri Jayasinghe has taken UNP membership.

Authoritative UNP sources told The Sunday Leader, that a group of disenchanted PA politicians have arrived at this decision largely due to the PA forming an alliance with the Marxist JVP. The source said that these MPs have been pressurising the party leadership not to make the SLFP play second fiddle to the relatively new Marxist political party.

When questioned however, former Katana Member Jeyaraj Fernandopulle ruled out any possibility of joining the UNP and said that he had no idea how the rumour mill has begun to work in this manner.

"There is no possibility in me joining the UNP," he said. However, UNP sources confirmed that Fernandopulle like several others who have pledged their support is merely waiting to find out whether he would be given PA nomination.

One of the MPs speaking to The Sunday Leader on the basis of anonymity said that what broke the camel's back was the formation of the PA-JVP alliance.

"We began to feel so uncomfortable within the new set up. There will be more cross overs in the near future because so many of us have lost many family and party members to JVP militancy."

Meanwhile, Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said at least five former PA parliamentarians and over 15 provincial councillors are scheduled to join the UNP ranks before nominations are handed over.

In this backdrop, SLFP General Secretary, Maithripala Sirisena is reportedly getting the named MPs to pledge loyalty to the PA. It is also learnt that Sirisena has promised all former PA parliamentarians party nominations at the forthcoming general elections.

  Headlines