Sampanthan calls for India’s help to keep UNP-SLFP marriage going

Opposition and TNA Leader R Sampanthan yesterday said he had sought India’s help to ensure the continuation of the UNP-SLFP administration. He told The Island that he had requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself in Colombo to do so. That objective could not be achieved without the two main parties sinking their petty differences for the sake of the country, the Opposition leader said.

"I explained the prevailing political situation in the country to the Indian Prime Minister," Sampanthan said, adding that the Indian government would help the incumbent regime continue its good governance programme. "We should not forget that a country cannot move forward if there is no unity within the government. We have faith in this government and we believe that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe can forge ahead despite obstacles in their path. We also think that they would devolve power without dividing the country."