Vajira calls for broader opposition alliance

Only a mature leader could put UNP on the right track, party MP for the Galle District, Vajira Abeywardene said today.

He told a press conference today that the UNP should focus on ensuring that it is led by a mature leadership.

“UNP should take into consideration the set up in the SLPP where the party is led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa though it fielded incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as its presidential candidate. The SLFP also followed a similar policy where former President Chandrika Kumaratunga was fielded as its prime ministerial and presidential candidate in 1994, while late Sirimavo Bandaranaike remained as the party leader,” MP Abeywardene said.

Asked whether party’s presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa was not a mature leader, the MP said Mr. Premadasa is a capable politician. At the same time, he said Mr. Premadasa should be the party’s prime ministerial candidate as he has already been named the leader of the opposition.

Also, Mr. Abeywardene called for a broad opposition alliance so that it could muster a majority in parliament at the next general election. A broad opposition alliance was the vision of late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who was instrumental in defeating the last administration led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015. Asked whether he was calling for a broad alliance which goes beyond UNF and with the support of other parties such as JVP, the MP said JVP is also a decisive political force which played a role in bringing former President Maithripala Sirisena to power. “We made an effort build up a broad alliance for the presidential election but it failed,” he recalled.

Gampaha District UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardene said closed door talks are on to reform the party and a revamping would come before long. “Discussions are on to assess as to why the party had lost the support of the majority community and reforms would be made to the party to win back lost votes,” he said. (Yohan Perera)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana