UNP, SJB heading for talks to form common front

• Leaders of both parties are positive about the alliance

By Yohan Perera

United National Party (UNP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are gearing up for talks next week in a bid to form a broad political alliance.

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene told Daily Mirror that he together with SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara are currently working towards fixing a date, time and venue for talks. 

“We are keen to start negotiations as leaders of both parties are positive about joining together,” he said. Mr. Wijewardene, “Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also in discussion with a number of other parties to form a grand alliance,” he said.

However, he said the most important factor is to get both UNP and SJB to the negotiating table. “An agreement between UNP and SJB has to come first,” he said.

Asked about the recent remark made by SJB Spokesman S. M. Marikkar that SJB’s status as the largest opposition party should be taken into consideration when forming an alliance, Mr. Wijewardene said discussions on these matters can be done later. “Anyone is free to make comments but talks between UNP and SJB should be the focus now. We can look into other matters later,” he said.

SJB’s working committee approved a proposal to begin a dialogue with the UNP on Thursday. A committee led by SJB General Secretary Madduma Bandara was appointed to confer with the UNP by the working committee. Others who are included in the committee are Kabir Hashim, Tissa Attanayake, Mujibur Rahman and Harshana Rajakaruna.