UNP working committee endorses dialogue with SJB

• Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala to lead discussions on behalf of the party   

By Yohan Perera   

United National Party (UNP) working committee yesterday unanimously endorsed a proposal to begin a dialogue with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and to form a broad alliance, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said

Wijewardene told Daily Mirror that he and General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala will begin discussions with the SJB immediately.   

“The party leadership informed the working committee of the proposal to start a dialogue with the SJB and it was unanimously endorsed ” he said.   

The two parties were expected to begin closed door talks at an undisclosed venue late last evening during the time this report went to the press.   

Meanwhile Former MP Rajitha Senaratne who made an official announcement to media at party headquarters Sirikotha said discussions to form a broad alliance will begin once the talks between UNP and SJB are completed. 

“The parties which contested the general election with the UNP under the gas cylinder symbol will form their own political groups shortly and we will initiate a dialogue with them in order to form a broad alliance later,” he said.   

In another development UNP working committee endorsed holding a disciplinary inquiry against MP Ravi Karunanayake who has been accused of getting New Democratic Front General Secretary to send in his name as a national list MP without the approval of UNP leadership.