23 July 2023 09:23 pm
President Ranil Wickremesinghe will lead a grand alliance that will contest the next presidential and general election, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said over the weekend.
Speaking during the UNP Bala mandala meeting of Wattala where Minister Harin Fernando was appointed the Party's new organizer in the area, Mr. Wijewardene said UNP would be the main party of the grand alliance which will be formed soon.
" President Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest the next presidential election leading a grand alliance. Many parties including SLFP, SJB and even SLPP were formed by those who were UNPers originally. President Wickremesinghe is making an effort to unite all these parties, " Mr. Wijewardene said.
" We have decided to appoint Harin Fernando as the organizer of Wattala as we needed an able person to lead the area after former Minister John Amaratunga had retired from politics" he added.
Minister Fernando said the next presidential election would be a contest between three persons namely incumbent President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Dullas Allahaperuma who is also likely to come forward. "Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will not contest because of the reluctance he had often shown. the Opposition leader will adopt his ' asai bayayi" approach at the next presidential poll as well " he said.
Also the minister said he would like to have airports under his purview as it would be easier for him to develop the tourism sector then.(Yohan Perera)