Division of UNP in 2020 led to the downfall of both RW and SP

By Yohan Perera   
The result of the Presidential Election 2024 would have been different if outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa had worked together, members of both camps told the Daily Mirror.    However, some members of the Sajith Premadasa led Samagi Jana Balawegaya believe that had Wickremesinghe stepped aside, the outcome would have been more favourable for them.   
Former MP Talatha Athukorala said National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake would not have won a good number of constituencies if there was patch up between Wickremesinghe and Premadasa and if one contested instead of both.   
“A patch up between Ranil and Sajith would have helped either one of them to defeat Mr. Dissanayake,” Ms. Athukorala told Daily Mirror.   
SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said Mr. Premadasa would have won if he got into a no contest pact with Mr. Wickremesinghe.