The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will meet on Tuesday (August 27) to further discuss the political alliance to be formed to contest the Presidential Election.
SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, UPFA General Secretary MP Mahinda Amaraweera and MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna will represent the SLFP at Tuesday’s talks to be held with SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa and other SLPP heavyweights, SLFP General Secretary Jayasekara told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
However, we are of the view that the SLFP and SLPP will have to reach a final consensus before the SLFP convention scheduled to be held on September 2.
In addition to the ongoing discussions between the two parties,
the second round of talks between SLFP leader President Maithripala Sirisena and SLPP leader former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to commence shortly. Reaching a final consensus will depend on the outcome of the discussions between the two leaders, Jayasekara said.
Asked whether the SLFP has decided to field its own Presidential Candidate, MP Jayasekara said so far no such decision was taken. “However, if the ongoing talks between the two parties fail, then the party will have to take a decision to field its own candidate.”
MP Jayasekara also denied media speculations that the SLFP has decided to field party senior MP Kumara Welgama as its Presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, the Organisation for the Protection of the SLFP had voiced strong opposition over a merger with the SLPP during discussions held at the SLFP headquarters on August 22. Organisation Secretary Rajika Kodithuwakku had said that their stance is that the SLFP should field its own candidate.