SLFP and SLPP ink MoU to back GR

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara and SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam sign the MOU while SLFP Acting Chairman Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa, Senior Deputy Chairman Nimal Siripala de Silva, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris and National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa look on – Pic by Lasantha Kumara

• SLFP believes MoU will not damage party’s identity 
• Insists both parties share similar core values 
• SLPP says MoU will protect supporters of both parties 
• Basil says despite being SLPP Leader, MR’s first love is SLFP 

By Nuwan Senarathna 

As the first step in forming a broad coalition against the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pledging support to SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The MoU was signed at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) at an auspicious time in front of a packed crowd. SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara and SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam signed the MoU on behalf of their respective parties.

Speaking at the event, SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said the MoU would strengthen the common cause of both parties. He noted that the core values of both parties were based on the same principles and as such they were compatible to form a coalition.  

“Both parties have the same core values and both parties follow the same basic principles. Therefore, I do not see any major differences between the two parties. I was told some families separated due to differences between the two parties. But that is over now and we can work together,” he said. 

Jayasekara pointed out that the MoU would not damage the SLFP’s reputation or identity. He noted that the party would be stronger and would protect its supporters and those who had committed their entire life to the party. 

“The signing of the MOU does not mean that we have joined the SLPP. This shows that we are ready to work together. The SLFP will never abandon or betray its supporters under any circumstances. The party will be stronger than ever and will be able to lead the country to prosperity,” Jayasekara said. 

He said that during coalition talks with the SLPP, both parties had agreed to 27 policies on the proposed coalition. According to Jayasekara, these policies would not undermine the ambitions of any party as the core values of both parties were aligned. 

He noted that the SLFP would sign a separate agreement with SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a way to pledge their support to his campaign.  “The SLFP will inform all of its supporters at all levels of the importance of working for the victory of Rajapaksa. We have electoral, district and national level efforts to support Rajapaksa,” he said. 

Speaking at the same event, SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa said that the two parties would put Sri Lanka first in their respective political efforts, which in his view is a mutual quality of both parties. He noted that as a party which worked in alignment with people’s expectations, the SLPP had decided to join the SLFP for the betterment of the country. 

“During the local government election, the public had signalled that if we wanted to elect our President, both the SLFP and SLPP should join together. Both parties decided that no one should be left behind. That is why we had to have a lengthy discussion and come to this conclusion,” he said. 

Rajapaksa said the MoU assured that members of both parties were protected and would not be ignored or forgotten. He noted that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed him that SLFP members should not be mistreated. 

“Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first love is the SLFP. He always said all members of the SLFP voted for him and helped him be the President for two terms. Therefore, everyone should be treated equally and no one should be left behind,” he asserted.