NPP rules out any discussion with ITAK to get their support for new government

• No official discussion
• Rules out any necessity for such an eventuality
• Gammanpila says NPP to offer foreign Ministry to Sumanthiran
• Sumanthiran says his opinion is that if they get an offer, it must be considered

By Ajith Siriwardana

While ruling out speculations that the members from the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) would get ministerial portfolios under National People’s Power (NPP) government, a top NPP official said there has been no official discussion to that effect and ruled out any necessity for such an eventuality.   

NPP general Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said no internal discussion had taken place to get the support of ITAK and said the NPP had fielded candidates covering all the districts for the General Election.   

“There will no need to get the support of others. We have fielded candidates for all the districts and hope to get the majority in parliament,’ he said.   

Meanwhile, former MP Udaya Gammanpila told a meeting that the NPP had agreed to offer the portfolio of foreign ministry to ITAK member MA Sumanthiran.   

Former ITAK MP MA Sumanthiran had told a news conference in Jaffna that his opinion is that if they get an offer for a ministerial portfolio, it must be considered.   

“There was an opinion in recent times that ministerial portfolios must not be taken. There was also an opinion that we must not join the Central government until a permanent political solution is given. That was not the policy of the party. 1965, members of our party have held ministerial portfolios. The situation changes with time. My opinion is that if we get such an offer, it must be considered,” he said.