Heated arguments took place during a discussion held under the patronage of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last night (28) to discuss the decision taken to hand over the shares of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant to an American company.

Several top-level representatives from the government and the leaders of constituent parties within the ruling coalition attended the discussion.

The talks started at around 5.30 pm yesterday and lasted for four and a half hours till around 10 pm, but no final agreement was reached, informed political sources said.

Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara asked a number of questions regarding the decision to hand over shares in the Yugadanavi power plant, and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa responded to those questions.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has requested the leaders of the allied parties to resolve the issues within the government and not to discuss them in public.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has instructed the leaders of the joint parties to submit their views and suggestions in writing regarding the decision taken to transfer the shares of the Yugadanavi power plant.