Categories: Politics

SLFP and SLPP must have one candidate

  • SLFP faction calls for unity, says MR and MS will decide candidacy together

Â

Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) breakaway fraction yesterday called for one Presidential candidate from the SLFP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), insisting both parties should have one candidate to form an alliance to compete in the Presidential Election.

“The basic structure of the proposed new political alliance has been completed, and both President Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa should work closely to strengthen the new alliance. The leaders of the alliance will decide the candidate for the Presidential Election jointly and the entire progressive public will support that candidate,” UPFA MP Dilan Perera told reporters at MP Thilanga Sumathipala’s residence.

Perera noted the new alliance would compete for all upcoming Elections, including the Provincial Council Election, which is likely to be held this year, and the General Election in 2020.

“There is no such thing that one group is better than the other, therefore we have to keep in our mind that as the senior political party, we are superior to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. But Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna also has to understand that their recent win in the Local Government Election matters but is not everything,” he added.

Speaking his turn, MP S.B. Dissanayake said other smaller political parties have also joined the two parties to form the proposed new political alliance. Dissanayake said so far all the discussions were successful, and the symbol of the new political alliance was being discussed. “We had met on Wednesday under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. During the meeting, we have decided to work as one group under one name,” he added.

Dissanayake noted that during the meeting, it was decided the Committee headed by UPFA MP Dallas Alahapperuma, who was appointed by SLPP to look into possibilities of forming a new political alliance, to expand with the inclusion of SLFP members to the Committee.

He said MP Thilanga Sumathipala, SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, and former Minister A.L.M. Athaulla were appointed to the Committee along with members of the SLPP, to expedite the alliance building process.

However, Dissanayake admitted certain MPs of SLFP and SLPP had been opposing formation of a new political alliance with the participation of SLFP and SLPP, but he assured that the new alliance building process would not be stopped due to such reasons.

“From the year 1952, we were able to win every time when we formed a broader political alliance, and every time when we try to compete alone, we lost. No one can take individual decisions, therefore we have to learn from our mistakes,” he added.

Meanwhile, MP Thilanga Sumathipala said a few Sub-Committees had been appointed by the Steering Committee, which is headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. He noted that the Sub-Committees would take on the task to organise the alliance to ready to face upcoming elections. “We will meet on the 16th for further discussions.”

Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – No benefit for Tamil Nadu from Modi’s Sri Lanka visit: CM Stalin

The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka did not benefit…

10 hours ago

LNP – Leading liquor store owner booked for promoting booze sales through Facebook

A leading liquor store chain owner cum hotelier had been booked by the Department of…

13 hours ago

LNP – Saudi Arabia bans visas for 14 countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended issuance of visas to citizens from 14 countries, including India,…

13 hours ago

LNP – Heavy rainfall likely in several provinces

The Meteorology Department says that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the…

17 hours ago

LNP – More than 50 countries have contacted White House to start trade talks, Trump adviser says

More than 50 countries have reached out to the White House to begin trade talks,…

19 hours ago

LNP – Thousands protest against Trump and Musk in ’Hands Off!’ rallies across US and Europe

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken part in an anti-Trump protest in a score…

1 day ago