People’s Alliance, with its original chair symbol, revived to back President

• Anura Yapa to lead PA
• Our alliance is open to everyone from all ethnic groups. We have also put a stop to nepotism​

By Yohan Perera   

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led People’s Alliance (PA) which came into being in 1993 under the leadership of late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been revived by a group of MPs under the leadership of MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. 

 The alliance which has retained its original symbol ‘chair’ announced that it will back incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the coming presidential election.   

MP Yapa who was speaking during the launch of the alliance announced its decision to Back President Wickremesinghe at the presidential poll.   

“Our alliance is open to everyone from all ethnic groups. We have also put a stop to nepotism. This is why we have decided change the constitution of PA and decided to introduce a leadership council to the party representing all allies. We welcome all who want to see a change in Sri Lankan political fabric to join us,” he said.   

“We have managed to get the support of many MPs,” he also said.  

SLFP Chairman and leadership council member Nimal Siripala de Silva said the alliance would have fielded its own candidate had it was finalized on time. “It is too late for us now to field our own candidate and therefore we have decided to back President Wickremesinghe,” he said.   

“We have decided to change Sri Lanka’s political fabric as almost all main parties have been divided into factions. These divisions have been brought about by the efforts made by certain families who tried to retain the control of political parties. We have ended this era,” he added.   

PA which was formed in 1993 managed to form administrations in three provincial councils after the elections and then went on to defeat UNP at the general elections in 1994. Its candidate Chandrika Bandaranaaike Kumaratunga managed to win Presidential elections in 1994 and 1999. It emerged victorious at the general elections of 2000.   
The PA is comprises 21 parties including Nimal Siripala de Silva faction of SLFP, the LSSP group led by Professor Tissa Vitharana, a group of Jathika Nidahas Peramuna led by MP Mohamed Muzzamil, a group of NSSP members. EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda, a group led by SJB MP Ishaq Rahaman and group of TNA members led by MP S. Viyalendran.