A discussion was held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the representatives of the political parties of the government yesterday (29), it was reported.

The representatives of political parties including the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) participated in the discussion.

Following the discussion, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said that the SLPP is not a party that works with portfolios in its mind.

“The President held a discussion with the parties of the government about the future programmes. We expressed our views as parties,”

Question – We saw people who are not Cabinet ministers like Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Mahindananda Aluthgamage also attended the meetings. What did the President tell them?

“This is not a discussion held regarding the positions of Cabinet ministers. It is a discussion regarding the future work of the government and the future political activities. We are not a party that always works for portfolios. We present our plans and the Opposition will present their programme. The people must choose.. This is democracy,” he said.

MP Gamini Lokuge said he will not ask for ministerial portfolios.

“We didn’t go to ask for Cabinet ministerial portfolios. They had invited the district leaders of the SLPP, the ministers and the leaders of the other political parties who are with us. There is no issue in protecting the government. The government has the required number of MPs,” he said.