According to the agreements reached during the discussion held yesterday (02) between Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, representatives of the Independent Group including members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and representatives of the SLPP including Basil Rajapaksa, it is reported that the Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Nimal Siripala de Silva has been appointed as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government.
The two sides had agreed to form a “national consensus government” and the SLPP has stated that their party will not propose anyone for the post of Prime Minister in honor of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is stepping down as Prime Minister.
Sources said that the name of Dullas Alahapperuma, who has been the subject of controversy in the media regarding the post of Prime Minister, has not been mentioned and only the names of the UNP leader, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Nimal Siripala de Silva have been proposed.
Ten members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya are due to join the interim government and their opposition to the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister has been discussed.
According to sources, Nimal Siripala de Silva will probably be the next Prime Minister.
The two sides also agreed to repeal the 20th Amendment and re-enact the 19th Amendment as the first step in this interim government.
However, the leaders of the SLPP have stated that they will announce their position on whether they will take over the ministerial posts in the new government, sources added.
