UNP, SJB Talks ongoing despite obstacles

*Ranil decides not to contest any election in the future 

*SJB decides for now to contest the General Election on its own

*Some SJB members are in favour of a broad alliance   

Despite SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday saying that his party will not enter into an alliance with the UNP to contest the General Election, Daily Mirror learns that the talks are still ongoing to make a final decision.

A decision to form a grand alliance for the general election with a new face as the Prime Ministerial candidate was announced earlier yesterday after former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision that he will not contest any election in the future. 

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene who held a joint press conference together with Rajitha Senaratne and UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said Mr. Wickremesinghe has decided not to contest any election in keeping with the UNP tradition. “President J. R. Jayewardene did not contest after his retirement while late President D.B.Wijetunga also did the same. Mr. Wickremesinghe will follow this tradition,” they recalled.   

Mr. Wickremesinghe will play an advisory role, the former MPs said.   

UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene also confirmed the decision made by Mr. Wickremesinghe at a separate media conference. However he said Mr. Wickremesinghe will stand up for the nation if the need arises.   
Wijewardene also said a decision has been made to form a broad alliance and to get the support of the SJB for it. “There are some SJB members who are in favour of joining a common grand alliance and we shall be talking to them,” he said in response to a question as to what would happen if SJB leadership opposes the move.   

“We have the support of almost all parties which backed Mr. Wickremesinghe but what we intend doing is to obtain the support of others such as SJB,” Dr. Senaratne said.   

It was reported on Monday that Mr. Wickremesinghe has appointed Talatha Atukorala and Mr. Wijewardene to carry out discussions with other parties to form a grand alliance.   

The other decisions including the symbol of the new alliance will be decided later. In the meantime, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party seniors have decided not to team up with the UNP for the general elections and to field its leader Sajith Premadasa as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the same, a party spokesman said.   

“SJB will be fielding our leader as SJB”s Prime Ministerial candidate and the party seniors have already made this decision,” he said.   

Meanwhile, SJB National Organizer Tissa Attanayake told the media that there is no necessity for the SJB to ally with the UNP. “We will immediately reorganize ourselves from the grassroots level and will gear up for the general election,” he said.