Committee to negotiate SLFP, SLPP alliance

• MR MS meeting on Friday discuss way forward for both parties
• Dayasiri, Prof. Rohana and Thilanga appointed to the committee to from SLFP, SLPP to nominate reps.
• Separate committee to negotiate with other parties

By Chathuri Dissanayake

A six member committee has been appointed to discuss details of a bilateral agreement between Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to form an alliance, SLFP Colombo District Leader Thilanga Sumathipala told Daily FT.

The decision to appoint the committee comes follow the meeting held between SLFP Chairman President Maithripala Sirisena and de facto Chairman of SLPP, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A number of representatives from SLFP including Thilanga Sumathipala, Mahinda Amaraweera and former SLFP General Secretary Prof. Rohana Laksman Piyadasa were present in the meeting along with Dullas Allahaperuma from SLPP side, with party Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris being a notable absentee.

The discussion, which focused on the way forward for both parties, agreed to appoint two committees to focus on the alliance. One joint committee will focus on the details of the alliance to be formed between the two main parties, SLFP and SLPP, Sumathipala explained.

SLFP has appointed Jayasekara, Prof. Piyadasa and Sumathipala to represent the party in negotiation, where the details of a bilateral agreement to be signed between the parties will be discussed. SLPP is to nominate three representatives by Wednesday after discussing the matter with Prof. Peiris and national organiser Basil Rajapaksa.

“We have to discuss the details of the agreement, we will have to focus on the core values of the two parties and have a document crystallise by the time we sign an agreement, rather than form an alliance and then negotiate terms,” he said.

With the first meeting of the committee set to take place before Friday this week, the discussions will focus details of the structure of the alliance, policy, symbol, officials and proportionate representation for both parties.

The second committee formed with representation from SLFP, SLPP and UPFA, is to negotiate partnership the SLFP-SLPP alliance will form with other parties. The committee which has been already formed includes Jayasekara, Sumathipala and Amaraweera representing SLFP and UPFA, and Dullas Allahaperuma and Prof. Peiris from SLPP.

“We have a number of parties we have discussed with and we want to carry these negotiations separately, so the second committee will look at that,” Sumathipala said.

Friday’s meeting also discussed the possibility of having a joint May Day rally, but no agreement was reached, Allahaperuma told Daily FT.

“We agreed to discuss the matter further. We also appointed a committee look at the possibility of holding joint protests,” he said.