Minister of Investment Promotions Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the government would accept anyone who comes from the opposition with open arms.

 

The Minister made these remarks addressing a press conference in Colombo in the wake of the reports that several Parliamentarians of the opposition, including UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera, were planning to cross over to the government.

 

Abeywardena himself crossed over to the government from the UNP a few years back and accepted a ministerial position.

 

The Minister, addressing the press conference, confirmed the reports that a group of UNP Parliamentarians are planning to cross over to the government in the coming week. He also added that he even had the name-list of MPs who were planning to crossover.

 

“Even though the UNP claims that it can defeat the government in the next election, it is unable to keep its own members of parliament on its side,” the Minister said while adding that Parliamentarians of the main opposition are dissatisfied with the present state of affairs in the party.

 

Meanwhile, speaking to Asian Mirror yesterday, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake flatly denied claims that he was negotiating with the government for a crossover.