29 August 2023 01:14 pm Views - 1843
Whilst the Samgi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stressed that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa should be the common Opposition candidate in the event that a joint opposition force is formed, and the National People’s Power naming Anura Kumara Dissanayake as its candidate, is irrelevant at the moment, said MP Dullas Alahapperuma while referring to a presidential or any other election.
“Our effort to form a common opposition force is done with the theme ‘stand for democracy’. Therefore, we believe that all opposition parties should come together to ensure that democracy is restored. We don’t talk of elections as there is no point if elections are postponed. Talking of presidential candidates at this time is irrelevant in this context,” he said.
“We will be talking to the Uttara Lanka Sahabaga, the TNA, SLMC, All Ceylon Makkal Kacchi, Tamil Progressive Alliance in the coming days,” he added.
NPP MP Vijitha Herath said the SJB can be considered as a partner of the opposition post.
“We have already decided to field Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the candidate of the NPP,” he said.
SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said his party is willing to join the opposition force but stressed that Mr. Premadasa has to be the common candidate.
“Mr. Premadas has to be the common opposition candidate as he is the one who is seen as an alternate leader, he added. (Yohan Perera)