• SJB willing to take over leadership of UNP if RW resigns
• Let a few who want to back Party Leader Wickremesinghe  remain in Sirikotha with a handful of party members, while others should  join us

By Yohan Perera   

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) insists that United National  Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should step down as a  condition for an electoral alliance with it in view of the General  Election.   

 Former MP Harshana Rajakaruna said all UNPers should join SJB rather than SJBers joining the UNP.   

“Let a few who want to back Party Leader Wickremesinghe  remain in Sirikotha with a handful of party members, while others should  join us. The best place for the UNPers now is SJB. Also, we are willing to  take over UNP if current leader Ranil Wickremesinghe resign and hands over the party to us. We have told Mr. Wickremesinghe to resign from the  leadership several times, but he did not heed the request. We are willing  to take over UNP if Wickremesinghe leaves, but we doubt whether it will  be given to us,” Rajakaruna told media.   

However, a process has already begun to get resolutions  asking Mr. Wickremesinghe to remain in the leadership from the  grassroots level. This began in Galle District during the weekend.   

Meanwhile, UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena was of the  opinion that the best option is to form a common opposition alliance to  contest the General Election.   

“We will see whether we can bring about a consensus among  the opposition parties to contest the General Election as a common  force. Forming a common opposition alliance is the best option where the  country is concerned, and we will get on with it,” Mr. Abeywardena told the media.   

“The main opposition has failed to secure power for the  first time in seven decades. The best option available now is to form a  common alliance in such a situation. We will see whether we can  achieve this goal and inform how we are going to contest the General  Election,” he said.