SJB, UNP talks focus on LG polls, no agreement on leadership

• The two parties seek to work out arrangements to contest the elections to the local authorities

By Kelum Bandara

Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) and United National Party (UNP) have held four rounds of talks seeking merger in view of future elections, but there is no agreement yet on the leader of the proposed amalgam.   
The two parties seek to work out arrangements to contest the elections to the local authorities.   
There is one proposal that the two parties should field candidates under the elephant symbol of UNP for some local bodies and under the SJB’s telephone symbol for others.  
A political source said talks had not yet progressed for any understanding on the leadership of the proposed alliance.