The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to form a broad political alliance with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and other constituent parties in the UPFA rainbow coalition including the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Communist Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, National Freedom Front and other progressive forces who are willing to join the new alliance to contest future elections.
This was decided on at the SLFP Central Committee which met under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence on Friday, December 7, SLFP General Secretary Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The SLFP’s decision to contest under a broad political alliance was taken some time ago but was delayed to some extent due to several court cases. However, the decision taken by the SLFP was unanimously endorsed at Friday’s Central Committee meeting, he said.
Prof. Piyadasa said the alliance will have a new Constitution, common name and symbol. At present, the name and symbol are being studied. The SLFP launched preliminary discussions to form an alliance with the political parties concerned a few days ago.
He said SLFP leader President Sirisena will certainly give leadership to this broad political alliance while former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other political party leaders will mobilise their active support to make the alliance a complete success at future elections.
Whichever election comes first, be it Provincial Council Election or General Election, the SLFP with these political parties, including the SLPP, will be in the forefront contesting as a broad political alliance. As in 1977, when the SLFP contested alone there was a bitter experience and it was defeated at the successive General Election. Hence a decision was taken to form a broad political alliance, he said.
The SLFP General Secretary said party reforms and the current political scenario in the country were extensively discussed to formulate a strategy to ensure a landslide victory.