Ranil holds talks with minority Tamil party for majority in CMC

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the leader of the United National Party (UNP) that defended power in its traditional vote base, the Colombo Municipal Council, held talks with a minority Tamil party to consolidate power in the Council.

The opposition party although it grabbed power in the Colombo Municipal Council at Saturday’s local government elections is short of a majority in the council.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday held crucial talks with the leader of the Democratic People’s Front Mano Ganeshan whose party won six seats in the Council.

UNP sources say that Ganeshan has expressed willingness to extend support to the UNP rule of the Council in crucial moments.

UNP which won 24 seats wants two more seats to consolidate power in the 53-seat Colombo Municipal Council. The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance won 16 seats in the council.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) have won two seats each and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and two independent groups received one seat each in the Council. (www.colombopage.com)