REFUGEE

Reliable sources told Lanka News Web that Minister Milinda Moragoda’s Sri Lanka National Congress has agreed to support UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya if he was to contest as the common candidate at the next Presidential election. An owner of a popular media house had coordinated the deal.

The Chairman of Milinda Moragoda’s Sri Lanka National Congress is former minister Sirisena Cooray. One of the UNP defectors who joined the government with Karu Jayasuriya, R.A.D. Sirisena is the Secretary of the Congress.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, who is also a close friend of Moragoda, has turned down an invitation for him to join the Sri Lanka National Congress.

Minister Milinda Moragoda turned down an offer by the President for him to either accept the post of SLFP electoral organizer of either the Mt. Lavinia-Ratmalana electorate or the Colombo East electorate. Instead, the Minister made an application to the Elections Commissioner seeking registration for his Sri Lanka National Congress. However, the Elections Commissioner rejected the request.

The Sri Lanka National Congress has now decided to act as an unregistered party and support Karu Jayasuriya if he is put forward as the common candidate. If a general election is called before the Presidential election, the Congress has decided to support the UPFA.