Norwegian attempt to forge TNA-SLMC alliance fails
An attempt by Norway to persuade the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to coalesce to contest the upcoming PC elections to the Eastern Provincial Council has failed, The Island reliably learns.
The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo had done its best to bring the two parties together, giving rise to speculation in political circles that an alliance between them was in the making, but its attempt had come a cropper, diplomatic sources said.
A Colombo based senior Norwegian diplomat had been trying to forge an electoral alliance between the TNA and the SLMC since the government dissolved the Eastern Provincial Council besides two others —the North-Central and Sabaragamuwa, sources said. He is believed to have the blessings of the countries campaigning for a war crimes probe against Sri Lanka.
The SLMC has decided to throw in its lot with the ruling UPFA at the Eastern PC polls. Former Eastern Province Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan’s TMVP is also contesting the polls on the UPFA ticket. (SF)
