President wanted us to merge for LG Polls – SLPP

• UNP says it was done to save the country

By Yohan Perera  

With both parties defending the move to contest together in the upcoming Local Government Elections, the United National Party yesterday said they decided to form an alliance with the SLPP for the sake of the country while the SLPP said it was President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision.  

SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Daily Mirror that President Ranil Wickremesinghe wanted all parties within the government to contest together. “ 

Around 12 political parties have already agreed to contest the local polls together while few more are engaged in discussions to join us. TMVP led by MP Sivanesathurei Chandrakanthan , CWC led by Jeewan Thondaman and EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda will contest with us under the grand alliance,” MP Aluthgamage said.  “We got Ranil elected as the President to pull the country out of its present crisis. Therefore our decision to contest the local polls together is based on that line,” he added.  

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said the objective of the alliance was to save the nation, “We decided it was not a time to play politics. A large number of parties and organizations will join our alliance,” he said.  

“What we have to say to parties such as SJB who criticise us is that those who are in the opposition also have skeletons in their cupboards. Even Leader of Opposition is accused of misusing state funds,” he added.  

The UNP and SLPP have been at loggerheads politically especially during the Aragalaya where President Ranil Wickremesinghe himself had on several occasions criticized the Rajapaksas as well as the SLPP ministers and wanted them to resign.   The SLPP have also not shied in their remarks on the President and his party in the past, with many saying there was no possibility in the parties working together politically due to a difference in their ideologies.