TNA accepts SLMC’s invitation

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to accept two ministerial portfolios and the deputy chairmanship of the Eastern Provincial Council.

The decision was reached following discussion held with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), TNA Batticaloa District MP P. Ariyanendran told Ada Derana.

However, a decision regarding which provincial ministerial portfolios will be accepted by the party is to be taken at a meeting between the TNA Eastern Provincial Councilors, he said.

Last week the leader of SLMC Minister Rauff Hakeem extended an invitation to the United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and other political parties representing the Eastern Provincial Council to form the new administration.

SLMC Deputy Leader and Provincial Minister, Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen, took oaths as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province on February 06.

Of the 37-member Eastern Provincial Council, the SLMC currently has 7 members, the TNA has 11 members, the UNP has 4 members while Rishad Bathiudeen’s All Ceylon Makkal Congress has 3 members.

The SLMC and ACMC were formerly part of the UPFA administration, however joined the opposition after the parties pledged support to the Common Candidate at the Presidential Election.