No question of quitting - JVP
Coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says that the United People's Front Alliance (UPFA)government has not agreed to the proposed Joint Tsunami Mechanism.
Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Hearth told BBC Sandesaya that there is no need for a special mechanism whilst there is already one which is sufficient to accommodate the people in the north and east. The government administation consisiting of divisional secretaries and district secretaries is more than enough to handle the process of tsunami relief programmes, the JVP polibureau member said. If there is a need for political authority Tamil National Alliance could be involved and a new mechanism is not necessary, he said. He said that the president has given a "clear written commitment" to JVP and other alliance partners that an agreement will not be reached on this without consulting them. Neither the cabinet nor the parties in UPFA have agreed to such a decision the minister said. The JVP will be participating in the UPFA government to ensure that the proposed joint mechanism will not be implemented. Asked whether JVP ministers would step down if president went ahead with a decision to implement such mechanism, he said that the question does not arise due to the absence of an agreement. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge in her Sinhala and Tamil new year message expressed willingness to accept the proposed joint mechanism. She said that it "would be a foundation to find a final solution to the protracted national conflict." Minister Viitha Herath denied all newspaper reports which said JVP would quit if government agreed to joint mechanism. He said JVP's stand is to prevent such a mechanism being implemented.