In a significant political move, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party agreed to pursue a “national consensus” on all issues. They agreed on a 6 point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreed to work on a “federal” solution to solve the ethnic issue in the island state.

While analysts called the MoU “very positive and unprecedented,” they were also cautious in their outlook because of the historical baggage of hostility between the two parties. Rajapakse invited Wickremesinghe to join the Cabinet to “effectively carry out the agreed programme of work.” Wickremesinghe cautiously told the media that the MoU signing may be delayed pending closure on details but Rakapakse’s public relations machinery promised that the signing will be “expedited.” While Wickremesinghe says that while his party would be happy to facilitate a “political solution” based on a “pursuit of peace” while “safeguarding the territorial integrity” of Sri Lanka .