New political alliance underway to challenge govt., strengthen opposition

• Some political parties have already agreed to be a part of this new alliance and discussions are ongoing to invite other opposition parties as well
• Invitations have also been made to M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam 
• Prof. G.L. Peiris has already been named as the Convenor of this new alliance 
• Sajith Premadasa had reiterated that the SJB would not join any new alliance 
• The key discussions between all the opposition parties is being initiated by former politician Milinda Moragoda 
• However, the alliance has been careful to leave out the SLPP from the group due to the objections from few of its members

By JAMILA HUSAIN
In order to revive a weak and ailing opposition, a major move is underway within the opposition parties to form a broader political alliance to take on the NPP government and address key national and economic issues in the country. The Daily Mirror learns that some political parties have already agreed to be a part of this new alliance, and discussions are ongoing to invite other opposition parties as well in order to launch a strong comeback campaign against the NPP.
According to sources, members of this new alliance have already begun weekly meetings at former minister G.L. Peiris’s residence in order to avoid being spotted by media personnel. Talks during these meetings vary on several issues, such as how to strengthen the opposition, take on the NPP, who presently hold a two-thirds majority in Parliament and also address the main concerns facing the citizens.

While G.L. Peiris has already been named as the Convenor of this new alliance, the key discussions between all the opposition parties is being initiated by former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Delhi, Milinda Moragoda. A seasoned diplomat and a former politician, Moragoda is the founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, an independent policy research and advocacy organisation.
During his tenure as the High Commissioner to New Delhi, Moragoda maintained extremely cordial relations with Narendra Modi’s government and is now actively involved in his Pathfinder Foundation,  whilst maintaining cordial relations with some of the global superpowers, including India.Sources said that Moragoda himself, who is part of this new alliance, is one of the key members to launch this alliance, while discussions are also ongoing to bring in more parties to strengthen it into a broader alliance.
The current members who are in the alliance representing their political parties are Susil Premajayantha from the New Democratic Front, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa from the People’s Alliance, Dayasiri Jayasekara representing the SLFP faction who joined the SJB, Patali Champika Ranawaka from the United Republican Front, Ramesh Pathirana from the New Democratic Front, Shehan Semasinghe from the SLPP, Lasantha Alagiyawanna from the New Democratic Front, Mayantha Dissanayake from the SJB, Mano Ganesan from the Democratic People’s Front, Rauff Hakeem from the SLMC, Rishad Bathiudeen from the ACMC, Palani Thigambaram from the National Union of Workers, V. Radhakrishnan from the Upcountry People’s Front and Nizam Kariapper from the SLMC.
Invitations have also been made to M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam from the ITAK, but both these members have declined the offer as of now.
Senior politicians Mano Ganesan and Rauff Hakeem had also met SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa a week ago, extending an offer for Premadasa and his SJB members to be a part of this alliance and attend the weekly discussions, but Premadasa had declined and has informed his party members not to attend, the Daily Mirror learns. In fact, at this meeting, Premadasa had reiterated that the SJB would not join any new alliance, and he would contest as the party’s Presidential candidate at the next Presidential Election. He had irritatedly mentioned that he would even write it on stone that he would contest as the President, and no one in the party would oppose it. However following this statement, the SJB has broken into an argument once again with some questioning if Premadasa was the ideal choice as the SJB’s Presidential candidate given the fact that he failed to win the previous two Presidential Elections against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while some others maintain that it would be advisable for the SJB to be a part of this new alliance. However,  Premadasa seems to be firm on his decision.
The alliance has also extended an invitation to UNP Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his UNP. The Daily Mirror learns that Wickremesinghe, who is still very active in the political field, has already consented to the UNP being a part of his new alliance and said he will soon send representatives to the weekly discussions.
However, the alliance has been careful to leave out the SLPP from the group due to objections from a few of its members.
For the time being, this new alliance maintains that it would function without a leader and its common Presidential candidate would be named closer to the 2029 Presidential Election.
It will also maintain that all members are equal and will take collective decisions in a transparent manner in order to avoid conflicts among members and political parties.