UNP, SLPP merge for local polls

• Parties will contest separately for some local bodies and then form  common administration
• An SLPP delegation will be led by Basil Rajapaksa

By Yohan Perera  

The United National Party and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will contest the upcoming LG Polls as one alliance, the UNP confirmed.   

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that the new alliance will be contesting some local bodies under the UNP symbol while in some bodies they will contest under the Pohottuwa symbol.  

In some other bodies, the alliance will contest under a new symbol which is yet to be decided.   “Also we have agreed that both parties should contest separately for some of the local bodies and then form an administration together later,” Range Bandara said.  

However he said the local bodies for which the parties would contest under Elephant symbol, and Pohottuwa and bodies for which the parties would contest under a common symbol and other where the parties would contest separately, will be finalized later.  

An SLPP delegation will be led by Basil Rajapaksa, while MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardene and Sanjeewa Edirimanne were other members from that delegation. The UNP delegation comprised Range Bandara himself, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and Party Chairman Vajira Abeywardene.

Discussions going on with several parties: UNP

By Yohan Perera

An official statement issued by the United National Party (UNP) yesterday said no final decision has been made on the contesting the local government elections, though discussions have been held with several parties, including Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). 

“The party has begun discussions with several parties which back the government and some independent groups on contesting the local government elections. 

Some discussions have been held with several parties already and SLPP is among them. More discussions will be held among these parties during the coming days as well. 

“The party will make another official statement on how it is going to contest the local government elections once the discussions are over,” the statement further said.