By Jamila Najmuddin

General Sarath Fonseka today rejected the latest invitation to join the United National Front (UNF) alliance, former parliamentarian Mano Ganeshan told Daily Mirror online adding that the alliance will meet in a short while to discuss the issue.

The invitation to join the UNF was conveyed to Mrs. Anoma Fonseka by UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha yesterday. Fonseka’s refusal to join the UNF was officially conveyed to the party today.

UNF Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe in a meeting with Mrs. Fonseka yesterday morning had requested the General to join the UNF and contest the upcoming polls under the elephant symbol. Wickramasinghe had said that he would remain hopeful that the General would accept his invitation. However when Mrs. Fonseka had conveyed the message to the General she had received a negative reply by him.

Ganeshan said that a meeting between Mr. Wickramasinghe, Rauff Hakeem, Mangala Samaraweera and himself will be held at the UNP headquarters this afternoon to discuss the rejection.

On Monday, Anoma Fonseka had said that the doors were still open for the main opposition UNP to join the DNA and contest the April general election under its ‘Trophy’ symbol.

Anoma Fonseka in a news conference that same day said that she was hopeful the UNP will change its stand and join the DNA in a bid to free Sri Lanka from the grip of nepotism and return it to the people who are the rightful owners.