UNP-SLPP main contenders in forthcoming poll: Ranil

There will be only two main political parties to contest this year's general election, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told several UNP-led trade union members this morning at the party headquarters in Sirikotha.

“Only two main political parties will contest the general election. They are the UNP and the SLPP. This is what is called democracy. The UNP is the only party that contested all general elections in the country. We will contest this one too. Some suggested that we aim to become the main opposition at this poll. However, my stance was to form a government.

The UNP has proven it could come out stronger after suffering a defeat. Our party was able to secure only eight seats in the 1970 election, but in 1977, we increased the count to 140 seats. We have fielded a new team of candidates in this year’s election. We did the same in 1977,” he said.

On a different note, he said the country’s political landscape had changed with the outbreak of COVID-19.

"The incumbent government failed to rebuild the economy in the wake of the pandemic. In its election manifesto, the UNP will come out with economic policies on how to build the economy,” he said. (Yohan Perera)