NEW YEAR DAWNS Political Parties take wing for Elections

UNP to form grand political alliance to back Ranil at Presidential Polls

• President says will reduce the high VAT as soon as possible

By Yohan Perera   

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has embarked on forming a  grand alliance to back him at the Presidential Elections in the New Year,  UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said yesterday.   

“We are talking to many political parties and many will  join us to back Mr. Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Elections this  year,” he said in response to a question raised by journalists as to  whether the UNP had begun any discussion with anyone from SJB.   

“President Wickremesinghe will surely be contesting the Presidential Elections,” he added.   

He said Mr. Wickremesinghe and the UNP does not expect  Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to become a contender. “We don’t  expect Mr. Premadasa to contest the Presidential Elections as he would be  left without a formidable team as time goes on,” Mr. Range Bandara  said.   

Also, he said President Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed  the party seniors that he does not want to continue with a high  percentage of Value Added Tax (VAT). 

“People in this country will have  to bear up for a limited period as the President himself had informed us  that he intends to reduce VAT whenever it becomes possible,” he said in  this regard.       

 GL, Dilan to join SBJ-led alliance in newest political somersault

SLFP MP Shan Wijayalal joins SJB

By Yohan Perera   

Two MPs who recently parted ways with the SLPP government along with the group led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma- Professor G. L. Peiris and Dilan Perera- convened at the opposition leader’s office and declared their move to form a grand political alliance in view of the Presidential Elections.   

The trio of MPs affirmed their dedication to building a cohesive opposition alliance under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa who is the Leader of the Opposition. Professor Peiris underscored the urgency of this alliance, citing the prevailing national crisis marked by concerns over the public’s financial strain due to tax and price hikes, notably the recent surge in fuel prices. 

 While expressing their commitment to collaborate with the SJB, the MPs clarified that they have not officially joined the party. Instead, they emphasized their decision to work with the SJB while preserving their distinct political identity.   

MP Dilan Perera acknowledged that their leader, Dullas Alahapperuma, is yet to decide on joining the broader opposition alliance. 

He highlighted the unanimous consensus among them to collaborate with the SJB, acknowledging a minor disagreement regarding the timing of their collective move. Emphasizing the need for a swift formation of a unified opposition alliance in preparation for potential upcoming elections, Perera stated, “The cake has to be iced as soon as possible.”   

 SLFP MP Shan Wijayalal, at the opposition leader’s office, formally acquired SJB membership from Mr. Premadasa. Wijayalal explained his decision to align with the SJB, citing it as the most potent force within 
the opposition.   

SLPP to launch membership awareness drive in view of elections

• Presidential Election scheduled before October 17

By Kelum Bandara

With the dawn of the New Year, the political parties appear to be repositioning themselves with new strategies in view of the elections pending.

When Sri Lanka stepped into 2023, uncertainty pervaded where the country was headed due to the challenges in the political, social and economic domains.

Now the New Year has dawned, but there is little for people to celebrate due to the economic woes exacerbated by the latest increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT). Coupled with challenges in the economic sphere, uncertainty prevails on the political front.

This is an election year in uncertain terms because the Presidential Election is scheduled to be conducted before October 17, this year, in terms of the Constitution. As such, the parties will gear up their political operations in 2024.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), as a party, will launch a campaign to educate its rank and file in February. The party lost its ideological strength because the country went bankrupt under its rule, triggering the worst-ever economic crisis in post-independence Sri Lanka. 

The members of the party became helpless in the face of severe political criticism.

Now, the party will carry out an island-wide campaign to educate its members on the issues that led to the economic crisis so that they can have some ideological stance in countering or 
blunting such criticism.

In the meantime, the SLPP group that acts under the leadership of Kurunegala District MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa announced yesterday that it would undertake the political campaign to back President 
Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MP Nimal Lanza who is the organizer of the group said he is certain about the conduct of the Presidential Elections.  

• the party will carry out an island-wide campaign to educate its members on the issues that led to the economic crisis