Commenting on the media speculations that several constituent parties of the United National Front (UNF) are to quit from the UNF over its leadership crisis , UNP Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera said all Party Leaders of the UNF who will attend the Local Government members special convention to be held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, Colombo today (January 26) under the patronage of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will officially announce their stance whether they would further remain in the UNF or quit.
The media had reported that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Rauff Hakeem, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) led by Champika Ranawaka, Democratic People’s Front (DPF) by Mano Ganesanand National Union of Workers (NUW) of P. Thigambaram have decided to quit the UNF in protest against Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision not to step down from the party leadership. In addition, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishard Bathiudeen will also take a final decision within the next few days.
However, MP Perera categorically denied certain media reports that appointment of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa as the UNP Deputy Leader and nomination of members to the UNP Working Committee will be completed by tomorrow (January 27). He said they have not been informed of any such decision taken by the party hierarchy.
Asked whether some of these constituent parties have officially informed their decision to quit the UNF, MP Perera said all Party Leaders of the UNF who will attend today’s convention would make an official statement in this regard.
He said nearly 4,000 participants including all UNP Local Government members and candidates will attend today’s special convention. It intends to educate the Local Government members on future political activities including contesting upcoming General Election and also thanking them for their support extended to Sajith Premadasa at the last Presidential Election.
Meanwhile, there is media speculation that the UNF is on the verge of splitting before the upcoming Parliamentary Elections with minority alliance members such as JHU, SLMC, ACMC expressing their dissatisfaction over the UNP’s internal battle. They have warned that they are likely to contest as a separate alliance in the event Ranil Wickremesinghe refuses to step down from the party leadership.
A UNP frontliner said that it is unlikely that Wickremesinghe would step down from the leadership and as such talks are currently underway by the Sajith faction to contest the General Election under a separate alliance.
UNF partners such as the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) have said that it will hold a meeting tomorrow (January 27) to consider contesting under its own symbol. The TPA consists of the Democratic People’s Front, National Union of Workers and the Upcountry People’s Front. SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem had also told the media that his party had informed its stance that it would contest under one banner only if Sajith Premadasa leads a separate alliance in the event Wickremesinghe does not step down.