A new alliance to be formed to contest General Election

• If Sajith is not appointed as the UNP leader  

By Nimala Kodithuwakku   

MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that if Sajith Premadasa did not receive the UNP leadership, a new alliance under his leadership would be formed for the upcoming General Election.

 He also said that the rest of the leaders of the United National Front (UNF) had agreed to support for the new alliance.   

Discussions held with the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding conferring party leadership on Sajith Premadasa on January 3 at his residence failed, he added.   UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, UNP Deputy Leader Ravi Karunanayake, Thalatha Athukorala, Malik Samarawickrama, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Kabir Hashim participated for this discussion. Prior to this convention, a discussion of UNF party leaders had been held with the participation of the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and party leaders including Patali Champika Ranawaka, Mano Ganeshan, P. Digambaran and Rauff Hakeem.   

MPs of the UNF have convened at MP Malik Samarawickrama’s residence at about 5.00 p.m. prior to these two discussions. MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that around 50 MPs were gathered and their unanimous decision was to contest at the upcoming General Election separately if leadership is not given to Sajith Premadasa.