SLPP shoots down SLFP offer of co-leadership

• Rejects SLFP proposal of coalition led by both MR and MS 
• Insists MR will be sole coalition leader, campaign to be run by Basil Rajapaksa
• Backs contesting under pohottuwa symbol 
• But says Sirisena will be given prominent position within coalition
• Final discussions to commence soon with Basil Rajapaksa’s return from US 

By Nuwan Senarathna

Signalling a potential bump in relations, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday rejected claims by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that there could be two leaders spearheading the coalition at the General Elections, insisting they would only contest under Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The SLFP last week at an Executive Committee meeting decided to change the name of the proposed coalition with the SLPP from the Sri Lanka Podujana Eksath Peramuna to the Sri Lanka Podujana Sandanaya. At the same meeting, the SLFP proposed creating a co-leadership position so that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former President Maithripala Sirisena could lead the coalition together. However, the SLPP insisted this would not be acceptable to them.  

Speaking to the media at the SLPP head office, Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris said that the party would only contest the forthcoming General Election under Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and no one else. The election campaign will be headed by the Prime Minister, who has long been the de-facto leader of the party, with the support of SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa, he added. 

Ahead of last year’s Presidential Election, Rajapaksa nominally gave up his SLFP membership and joined the SLPP. However, his parliamentary seat was won as a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) member. 

“We have one leader and that is Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. We will not agree to a co-leadership appointment. Therefore I can assure that Prime Minister Rajapaksa will lead the campaign towards victory,” he said.

However, former president Sirisena will not be sidelined in the coalition and a proper position and recognition will be given to him as leader of the SLFP, Prof. Peiris revealed.

Both parties are yet to reach a decision on the symbol of the proposed coalition as well as other matters such as the nomination list. Prof. Peiris reiterated that the SLPP flower bud symbol would be ideal to contest the forthcoming General Election. According to Prof. Peiris, the majority of the party wanted to contest under the flower bud symbol due to its popularity.

“The flower bud is a lucky symbol and it is very popular among the public. The SLPP is the only political party that people call by its symbol. I do not think it is a wise move to contest under a different symbol in the forthcoming General Election,” he added. He argued that the SLFP was not opposed to contesting under the SLPP symbol.

Meanwhile, State Energy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said the SLPP would decide on the coalition once discussions resumed with National Organiser Rajapaksa, who returned to the country last morning. He noted that a final decision would be taken following a party group meeting but could not say when the talks would take place. 

“If we are going to decide anything, it should be decided at a group meeting. We can decide on the structure of the coalition and the Constitution but the basic values of the SLPP will remain unchanged,” he asserted.

The SLFP and the SLPP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ahead of the Presidential Election to contest the General Election as a broader coalition under a neutral symbol. However, this stance is likely to change over the coming weeks.