SLPP rejects SLFP request for 30% nomination quota

• SLPP youth wing says SLFP should take friendlier approach 
• Contends that SLPP coalition parties will also require nominations 
• Calls for SLFP to be more flexible on quota 
• Recalls SLPP managed to win Local Government polls sans SLFP  

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Simmering tensions between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) over their proposed coalition continued yesterday with the SLPP youth wing saying they were not on board with giving a 30% nominations quota to the SLFP at the upcoming General Elections.

The SLFP earlier demanded a 30% quota of nominations for their members at the forthcoming General Election, which they are expected to contest as a coalition with the SLPP. They also want a co-leadership position for former President Maithripala Sirisena so that he heads the coalition with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris this week rejected the proposals and said that Rajapaksa would be the sole leader, but assured a prominent position for Sirisena.    

Speaking to media at the SLPP Head Office, MP D.V. Chanaka said they would not agree to form a coalition if it is based on the condition of giving a 30% quota, and called on the SLFP to work with them as friends. He also backed Prof. Peiris’s stance that SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena could not be a co-leader of the coalition. 

“It is unfair for the SLFP to ask for a 30% nominations quota. There are several political parties that helped us since 2015, such as the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna, Pivituru Hela Urumaya, and Democratic Left Front. Therefore we have to give some percentage for their nominations as well, which means 30% is difficult,” he said. Chanaka also called on the SLFP to reduce their quota to be amenable to SLPP commitments.  

Chanaka opined nominations should be given to those who are popular with the public, and assured nomination would be given only to those who meet the SLPP’s standards. When asked about giving nominations for members of the Viyath Maga organisation, formed by professionals who backed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the election, he said that would be decided based on the public’s preference. 

He argued the SLPP was able to win the Local Government elections without the help of the SLFP. Chanaka was confident that the SLPP would be the leading political party at the General Elections, and therefore prominence should be given to SLPP members.  

“We were able to win the Local Government elections without the help of the SLFP, and now we have gained more popularity than ever before. Considering the current circumstances I think SLFP should find a friendlier approach,” he said. 

Prior to the Presidential Election the SLFP and SLPP agreed to contest the General Election under a neutral symbol, but currently the SLPP is fighting to contest under the “Pohottuwa” symbol arguing that it is more familiar to the public, and therefore likely to gain more votes.