Minister In Secret Talks To Topple 'National Government' During Budget Vote

A senior Cabinet minister representing a district in the Western province has held  a few rounds of discussions with a group of opposition parliamentarians over the possibility of 'toppling' the government during the budget vote, Asian Mirror reliably learns. 

The Minister, who represents the UNP, is known for 'political leapfrogs' throughout his three decade long political career. In the recent past, he was known to be a staunch backer of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

The Minister has discussed the possibility of forming a non-UNP government, under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, a Parliamentarian who was privity to the discussion told 'Asian Mirror. 

However, the majority of SLFP MPs who joined the national unity government are opposed to the move of 'toppling' the government during the budget vote due to multiple reasons, highly placed political sources said. 

"They are of the view that the national unity government should continue until 2017 with the two major political parties as key stakeholders. Therefore, the plans of toppling the national government during the budget vote in November is unlikely to succeed," they further said. 

The Parliamentarian who spoke to Asian Mirror said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa too was aware of the discussions with the minister and the group of UPFA Parliamentarians.