Wimal, Dullas, Anura Yapa, Maithri forge alliance under helicopter symbol

• Uttara Lanka Sabhawa is headed by MPs such as Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal  Weerawansa, whereas Nidahas Lanka Sabawa is led by MP Dullas  Alahapperuma

 By Kelum Bandara  

Four political parties and groups - Uttara Lanka Sabhawa, Nidahas Lanka Sabhawa, Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP ) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) – Independent Group led by MP Anura Yapa Abeywardane - will form a new political alliance named Freedom People’s Alliance today to contest the local authorities’ election under the helicopter symbol, political sources said.   

They currently sit in the opposition in Parliament, and have decided to merge for an alliance ahead of the elections.  

Uttara Lanka Sabhawa is headed by MPs such as Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa, whereas Nidahas Lanka Sabhawa is led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma. The new alliance will be announced to the country today at 4.00 pm at the headquarters of SLFP led by former President MP Maithripala Sirisena.   

All of them contested the 2020 parliamentary elections on the SLPP ticket. However, with the public uprising against the government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, they defected from it and sat in the opposition.   Nidahas Lanka Sabhawa also held talks with 43rd Brigade spearheaded by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka. However, it has not been included in the new alliance.