Opposition to sign joint statement today against LG polls delay 

• Says collective agreement has been reached to defeat any move to delay polls
• Parties to undertake public awareness campaigns regarding the issue
• Total of 15 Opposition parties and organisations, including main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya expected to sign the agreement

Parties and organisations representing the country’s Opposition will sign a joint statement today against the Government’s alleged attempt to further delay local Government elections by citing the need for electoral reforms. The event will be held at the Parliament today at 11.00 a.m. with the participation of Opposition leaders and members. Releasing a statement, the Freedom People’s Congress, a breakaway group from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, said the parties of the Opposition recently arrived at a collective decision to oppose any moves to postpone the local Government elections. The joint statement will be signed as part of that agreement, the organisation said. 

The Congress said it was decided that parties would oppose any attempt by the Government to delay elections, both individually and collectively. Programs to educate the public will also be conducted by the parties of the Opposition. It also added that the parties have agreed to take legal action against the delay of elections and to defeat any proposal to delay polls in Parliament. 

The agreement has been reached by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, National Freedom Front, Democratic Leftist Front, 43rd Brigade, Tamil National Alliance, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Sri Lankan People’s Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, All Ceylon Muslim Congress, New Lanka Freedom Party, Democratic People’s Front, Vijayadharani People’s Congress and the Frontline Socialist Party. The joint statement is expected to be signed by all leaders of the aforementioned parties.