• Discussions focused on contesting under one common symbol  

By Kelum Bandara 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) initiated talks with the People’s United Freedom Alliance (PUFA) led by former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to explore the possibility of reaching an electoral understanding to contest the General Election, officials familiar with talks said.  

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told Daily Mirror that the discussion was primarily aimed at working out a common understanding to contest the election under one symbol, be it the lotus of SLPP or the trophy symbol of the PUFA.  

“It is challenging for us to look for a different symbol at this juncture when the election has already been declared. However, we have not taken any final decision,” he said. 

 
After the meeting with the SLPP, the PUFA proceeded with a string of meetings with other small like-minded parties to strike a broad possible political alliance.   

The Election Commission started yesterday accepting nominations from the respective parties and independent groups intending to contest the election. The nomination period will end on October 11, and polling will take place on November 14.