Sajith could be the PM candidate if he agrees to a grand opposition alliance: Pro Ranil group

• Some UNPers have requested that the common symbol should be the elephant

By Yohan Perera 

The UNP and other opposition groups are willing to accept Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa as the Prime Ministerial candidate if he agrees to a common opposition alliance under a common symbol ahead of the General Election 2024, a former MP said yesterday.    

Former MP Saman Ratnapriya who is a close associate of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe told media that Mr. Premadasa is welcome to become the Prime Ministerial candidate if he agrees for a common opposition alliance under a common symbol.   

“We are ready to welcome Mr. Premadasa as the Prime Ministerial candidate if he agree to form a common opposition alliance under a common symbol. However, the issue is that the SJB wants the symbol of the common alliance to be the telephone. No alliance is formed under a symbol of a partner of that alliance. It has to be a common symbol,” Ratnapriya said.   

“However, we will be making the final decision on the common symbol in two days’ time and we shall then make an announcement on a common symbol,” he added.   

Meanwhile SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said his party had officially informed former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign from the UNP leadership so that Mr. Premadasa could take over the party and go ahead with the forming of a common alliance.” Mr. Wickremesinghe has not agreed to step down from the leadership,” he said.   

Meanwhile former MP Manusha Nanayakkara told media that there is a request by some UNPers that the common symbol should be the elephant. “Some UNPers wants the elephant symbol back but we have to think about all these options. This is why we have not come to a final agreement yet,” he said.