Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya to contest under SLPP & Pohottuwa

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya, the recently formed alliance led by SLPP and SLFP, will contest the upcoming General Elections under the Sri Lanka Podujana Permauna (SLPP) and its lotus bud symbol (Pohottuwa), the SLPP informed the Election Commission yesterday.  

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has officially informed the Elections Commission of the decision.  Once a General Election was called, political parties contesting the election should inform of their decision to the Elections Commission within seven days from the day the election was called. Accordingly, Mr. Kariyawasam has informed the commission that the new alliance would contest the election under the SLPP and lotus bud symbol. However, on February 17, the SLPP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) requested the Elections Commission to register their new alliance Sri Lanka Nidhahas Podujana Sandhanaya to contest the upcoming elections under the lotus bud symbol.  

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was named as the leader of the new alliance while former President Maithripala Sirisena was named as Chairman and Basil Rajapaksa as General Secretary Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, National Freedom Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya and several others parties are constituents of the new alliance.