Justice and Law Reforming Minister Milinda Moragoda last week unveiled his new political party, the Sri Lanka National Congress, which will "work closely with and offer full support to the UPFA and the President (Mahinda Rajapaksa)."


Moragoda said in an open letter he released last week that Rajapaksa understands what he (Moragoda) is seeking to do "and encourages me to maintain a distinct identity."


"This is the spirit of consensual politics our nation solely needs and is a founding principle behind the idea of a government of national unity," he said.


He said that he, together with a group of likeminded citizens, had formed the new political party. Mr. Sirisena Cooray and Mr. R.A.D. Sirisena are among those who have joined Moragoda in this initiative.