COLOMBO: The national politics is set to return to a divisive mode with President Mahinda Rajapaksa clearing the decks for the induction of the defectors from the principal Opposition United National Party (UNP) into the Government.

According to informed sources, the swearing in is scheduled at the temporary presidential palace for Sunday. The only uncertainty is about the number of parliamentarians' crossing over.

The move is bound to undermine the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the UNP signed October last. For the first time, the arch political rivals had agreed to pursue a "national consensus" on issues confronting the country including the ethnic issue. They agreed broadly to work on a "federal" solution to the decades-old ethnic strife.

After signing the MoU, Mr. Rajapaksa had invited the UNP to join the Government. However, UNP leader and Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe turned it down on the plea the UNP would lose its identity.

The dissidents waited for over three months to break ranks and accept ministerial positions while retaining their membership of the UNP. The party in recent months unsuccessfully challenged in the Supreme Court the action of two of its parliamentarians.

Mr. Wickremesinghe is in New Delhi for an interaction on the situation here. It is not clear how he intended to deal with one of the serious challenges to his leadership in his long career.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the ultra-nationalists that signed an MoU with Mr. Rajapaksa before he was elected President in November 2005, are also livid with the crossovers.

Mr. Rajapaksa's managers contend that the decision would not only "strengthen" the minority Government but also help the President jettison the JVP.

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