No UNP – SLPP Alliances as reported claims Navin 

Former UNP MP Navin Dissanayake

• Labels reports of an alliance between the parties as ‘false news’
• Accuses SJB of twisting the story for political advantage
• Claims SJB is not making any headway and many members are now returning to the UNP

Former United National Party MP Navin Dissanayake has slammed reports claiming the UNP has struck an alliance with the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) calling it ‘false news’. Dissanayake took to Twitter yesterday and accused members of the UNP breakaway group, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) of giving the story a different twist to their political advantage. 

Dissanayake said while the UNP will contest either under the elephant symbol or a common symbol with any coalition partners, it will under no circumstances contest under the flower bud symbol of the SLPP. 

“The respective district leaders will have the autonomy to decide on how to prepare the list for their respective districts. For example, in Nuwara Eliya, we will most likely contest under the elephant symbol. For other areas we are having discussions with Jeevan Thondaman and the SLPP to contest under the swan or an independent symbol,” he said. 

“Every political party has a right to do this. Most of the councillors want to contest the elephant symbol but will compromise under the swan or an independent symbol. Under no circumstances will we contest under the flower bud symbol,” he added. 

The former MP also noted that many who left the UNP to join the SJB are now returning. “They are not making any headway with the SJB and they are trying to scuttle the UNP,” Dissanayake said.