Forming of joint opposition alliance stuck due to SJB conditions

• Former President Wickremesinghe earlier appointed Ruwan Wijewardene and Talatha Athukorala to talk to the SJB and to form a common opposition alliance
• It’s good to see that schemes approved, allocated funds through the treasury and initiated by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and stopped by the election commission during the Presidential election recommencing under the incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

By Yohan Perera   

The talks for the formation of a joint opposition alliance by bringing United National Party (UNP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is in a stalemate because of the two conditions laid out by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), a statement from UNP said over the weekend.    

Former Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday welcomed the recommencement of projects which were stopped during the presidential election.   

“It’s good to see that schemes approved, allocated funds through the treasury and initiated by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and stopped by the election commission during the Presidential election recommencing under the incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,” the Former Minister said in his X message.   

“The fertilizer subsidy was increased from Rs.15,000 to 25,000 and a fuel subsidy for fishermen was introduced as government policy decisions in August 2024 with the allocation of funds through the treasury. Solar panels for religious institutes were procured in March 2024 under the Indian Credit Line and the first shipment of the panels arrived in the country in July,” he added.   

“All programmes were put on hold by the Election Commission in August this year,” he said.