[2008-05-17 4.25pm] ‘Lanka Dissent’ learns that President’s Advisor Basil Rajapaksa has commenced a round of talks with a member of the Hizbulla faction, requesting the PC member to join the government with promises of a ministerial portfolio.

The UPFA government has been facing a dilemma of how to maintain the majority power in the East PC after three of its members, including M.L.A.M. Hizbullah announced their decision to function as an independent entity.

With this decision, the East PC members of the UPFA were reduced to 17.

The only East PC member of the Tamil Democratic National Alliance (TDNA) has pledged his support to Pillayan.

Under such a backdrop, the government is short of one member to claim majority power in the provincial council.

Speaking to ‘Lanka Dissent’, a senior minister said that Basil Rajapaksa has been approaching several PC members of the Hizbullah faction and of the UNP, in an attempt to obtain the needed support.

Meanwhile, the government is desperately attempting to make up with the Hizbullah faction, the minister added.