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Thursday, 1 August 2019 05:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Nuwan Senarathna
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Joint Opposition politicians loyal to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will form a broader political alliance under the name ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Ekabadda Peramuna’ on 6 August, Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday.
Speaking to the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Alahapperuma said the decision to form an alliance was made at a special meeting held at the Opposition Leader’s residence on Tuesday evening. All the JO members and SLPP representatives had been present at the discussion.
The SLPP and 10 other political parties that do not represent Parliament had signed a Memorandum of Understanding last Friday to support an SLPP presidential candidate. During the discussion, all parties had agreed on the constitution the alliance will be formed on. The new political alliance will consist of 24 political parties that have already agreed to support the SLPP presidential candidate to be announced on 11 August.
“The JO consists of 13 political parties that have been loyal to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa for the past four-and-a-half years. They will also be part of this alliance and 11 other political parties that were not part of the JO will join. Out those 11 political parties, four of them supported the incumbent Government, therefore this will be a broader alliance that can lead the country forward,” Alahapperuma said.
He noted that political parties that were members of the JO had had a lengthy discussion on the policy framework of the new alliance that could resolve the prevailing socio-economic challenges and attain higher economic development.
Alahapperuma pointed out the new alliance would play a crucial role during the Presidential Election, likely to be held by the end of this year.
He noted the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would not be part of the alliance to be formed on 6 August but assured talks between SLFP and SLPP were a success and both parties had been able to find common ground.
Alahapperuma said the final decision on a forming a coalition between SLFP and SLPP would be decided following one-on-one discussions between President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“The talks between SLFP and SLPP are successful, as both parties agreed during the discussion that the President and the Opposition Leader will have to make the final call. The meeting of the two leaders will be held soon and we hope that will pave the way to form a broader anti-United National Party (UNP) alliance,” he said.
