No intention to join UNP

• MP Dissanayake said the relationship he has with the UNP is not a personal one

By Sisira Samal

SLFP National Organiser and parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayake said on Tuesday that he has no intention to join the UNP unilaterally. 

MP Dissanayake, who was speaking to journalists after a function at Nochchiyagama said the relationship he has with the UNP is not a personal one, but was built around by the SLFP after the two parties decided to work together in 2015.    “I got on to the UNP stage together with President Maithripala Sirisena to support him at the 2015 presidential election. The relationship I have developed with UNP is not a personal one. It was developed during our journey towards building the country,” Mr. Dissanayake said.   

“Duminda Dissanayake has not thought of switching sides and will not think as such in the future,” he added.

  
I have repeatedly mentioned that I will work towards getting Mr. Sirisena re-elected. This is our expectation as SLFPer,” he added.   However, the MP said one could think of another candidate only if President decides not to run for a second term. “We have always held the opinion that President Sirisena should run for a second term in order to continue the work he has carried out. We cannot oppose if another party decides to field a candidate. Our intention should be to make our candidate victorious at the presidential election. UNP, JVP, TNA or any other party could also field candidates. We cannot talk about them now. We can only express our ideas on other candidates only after nominations are handed over,” the parliamentarian said.  

He said he had adopted a ‘wait and see’ policy on the SLFP-SLPP discussions. “First round of the SLFP-SLPP talks were held. A second round is to be held later. Let’s wait and see what comes out of it,” he concluded.   

I got on to the UNP stage together with the President to support him at the 2015 presidential election