The UNP and opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in a magnanimous gesture so characteristic of him said, the newly formed UNP led Alliance , the UNF, is prepared to accommodate even a nominee proposed by the Opposition parties which have not yet joined the Alliance , as the joint Opposition candidate at the next Presidential elections. Let that be a party or an individual , he added

He stated this at a news conference yesterday ( 6) ,with the new UNA partners at the Parliamentary premises.

Referring to the Gen Fonseka episode , the Govt. was only concerned about saving Defense Secretary Gotabaya. It was the UNP that took the initiative to tell the US Govt. not to harass him and send him back to SL ,. he added.

SLFP (M) convener Mangala Samaraweera said the Govt. is now a bundle of confusion. In the morning it thinks of holding a Presidential election , in the evening it says General elections first , and in the night, even thinks of holding a referendum .

More parties are to join the new Alliance in the coming weeks. Some of those in the Govt. ranks have already given the signal, he noted.