SLFP and SLPP propose name for new coalition

• Both sides provisionally agree on Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Peramuna as name for fresh coalition
• Says discussions on policy framework will be finalised in one week 
• SLFP negotiating on coalition backing President Sirisena to run for second term  
• Gota’s role unclear, SLFP says it will contest solo in worst case scenario 
• Amaraweera says five candidates emerging from UNP   

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday said “Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Peramuna” has been proposed as the new name for the coalition between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), with intense negotiations on policy to continue for one more week. 

UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera told reporters yesterday that talks between the SLFP and SLPP were continuing unabated, with additional meetings taking place behind the scenes. Amaraweera also said that a 25-point policy document had been presented to the SLFP by the SLPP, and a counter-proposal had been sent by the SLFP in response. The policy documents contain details on governance, foreign policy, economic policy, and other details on how the two parties will manage the coalition. 

“We are also discussing positions and candidates. The SLFP is negotiating on the basis that President Maithripala Sirisena will be the Presidential candidate. We are open to suggestions from the other side, but our intention is still to form a coalition to contest the Presidential Elections,” he said. 

Responding to questions about the candidacy of Presidential hopeful and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is expected back in Sri Lanka after recuperating from an illness in Singapore, Amaraweera said they were not against any candidate, but if talks break down, the SLFP will contest with its own coalition. 

“We have not ruled out anything. There is still time for both parties to come to an agreement and decide who will hold which position. We are ready to engage in broad discussions but the SLFP will not shut shop if talks fail. Already the SLFP has rejuvenated its grassroots organisations, and is ready for an election battle,” he added. 

Earlier reports had indicated that the Presidential candidate of the SLPP will be announced at an event on 11 August, when Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will officially take up SLPP membership.    

Amaraweera also found fault with the United National Party (UNP), insisting that Government funds were being directed to election spending, rather than national development. He claimed that major infrastructure projects such as the Southern Expressway and the Central Expressway were stalled due to non-payment of dues to companies, leaving many local contractors in difficult circumstances. 

“When a highway is developed, it must happen in an organised manner. On the Central Expressway, the first part is being built very slowly and there is complete uncertainty over the third part. The middle section is being built by local contractors, so work is proceeding on that, but what is the point of a highway if only the middle part is completed? It’s the same story for the Southern Expressway, where the final section is being completed, but they have run out of money for the first part. Earlier this week the Chinese company even stopped work. But the Government has money to expand Samurdhi, and hold tamashas. The public know that all these events are targeted at the elections. We now see public funds being spent on five hopeful candidates in the UNP,” he said. 

When questioned as to who the five prospective candidates were, Amaraweera declined to mention names, but called on the media and public to pay closer attention to power struggles within the UNP. He also faulted the Government for not carrying forward national policies made for fisheries and agriculture, which were formulated when the coalition Government was in power. 

“I completed a national plan for fisheries when I was the Fisheries Minister, and my colleague Duminda Dissanayake did the same when he was Agriculture Minister. These proposals should have been presented to Parliament, along with critical reforms for education, healthcare, housing and transport. But this Government has put aside all that important work, and is just working to win the next election.”