SLFP-SLPP MoU will increase votes for GR: SLPP

• Says GR has chance to get as much as 60% of votes
• Faults Sajith Premadasa for not taking action against bond scam
• Insists Premadasa cannot pledge anti-corruption given the scandals of current Govt.

By Nuwan Senarathna

Welcoming the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the agreement increased the chance of Gotabaya Rajapaksa winning the upcoming Presidential Election exponentially as it paved the way for voters of both parties to back one candidate.

MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing the media yesterday

Speaking to media at the SLPP Head Office, Abeywardena said the MoU had unified SLFP and SLPP supporters during the past four-and-a-half years. He argued the MoU had given new energy to Rajapaksa’s election campaign.  “I must thank the SLFP for joining with us and supporting Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The SLPP and SLFP are based on similar core values. Most of the SLPP supporters were SLFP backers earlier, therefore I think this MoU is a blessing for us. It has united all of them and provided a common platform for everyone to come together,” he said. 

Abeywardena argued that following the signing for the MoU, Rajapaksa could get as much as 60% of votes in the election. According to Abeywardena, based on the last Local Government election results, Rajapaksa has a chance of getting more than 60% votes when the number of SLPP votes and SLFP voters are combined.   “During the last Local Government election, the SLPP received close to 50% of votes and SLFP received more than 10% of votes. If we add those numbers we will be able to get more than 60% of votes for Rajapaksa. Some of the supporters were frustrated due to the tussle between the SLFP and SLPP but I hope they will also vote this time as these divisions have now been resolved,” he said.

Referring to United National Party (UNP) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, Abeywardena charged Premadasa had not stood against the UNP’s misconducts during the past four-and-a-half years. He charged Premadasa had to take responsibility for the current Government’s decisions as he was s a Cabinet Minister in the administration but had been unable to stand against corruption and other issues since 2015.

“When the bond scam happened, Premadasa did not say anything about it. He pretends he did not see that. He cannot just say as that is not his portfolio. As Cabinet Minister and Deputy Leader of the UNP, he has responsibility for all those corruption issues,” he charged. 

He argued Premadasa could not claim that he would form a corruption-free government when he has been part of an administration that has been accused of corruption. According to Abeywardena, the UNP cannot campaign against corruption as it has been accused of instances of major corruption during its time in office.