Sri Lanka's main leftist party JVP or the People's Liberation Front has announced that abolition of a joint deal with the Tamil Tigers for tsunami relief co-ordination would be the key to any future alliance with the ruling party.

Wimal Weerawansa, the leading parliamentarian for the JVP told parliament Thursday that if they are to extend support to the ruling party in the near future, the P-TOMS or the post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure must be abolished.

The JVP in mid June left the government over its protest on President Chandrika Kumaratunga's decision to enter the deal with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

The government as a result has now become a parliamentary minority as the 39 MPs belonging to the JVP are now sitting in the opposition.

However, a section of the ruling party is still banking on the leftist's support when the next presidential election is held.

The JVP is yet to reach a final decision on the presidential election. The ruling party candidate, the incumbent Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse is keen to clinch the JVP support amidst speculation that the JVP would field its own candidate.

P-TOMS agreement was signed aimed at facilitating the tsunami relief aid to the Tamil regions in the north and east provinces. The JVP says the deal has conferred official recognition to a terrorist group.

Source: Xinhua