While many political alliances are being formed in view of the upcoming Presidential Election, the Freedom People's Congress (FPC), the largest ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) breakaway group led by Opposition Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma, said that it is yet to decide on forming an alliance with any party, even though several discussions have taken place with political parties such as the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (27), FPC Opposition MP B.Y. Gunapala Rathnasekara said that it needs an extensive dialogue between the group members before joining any alliance, as the FPC is more concerned about policies than the individuals of the political alliances that they wish to join. He also said that the FPC has no intention to join the recently formed political alliance led by Opposition MP Nimal Lanza, claiming that no discussion has taken place within the Party thus far in this regard. When queried as to whether the FPC has taken any decision to join the SJB, Rathnasekara noted that they have held several rounds of discussions regarding the formation of an alliance, but that the two groups are yet to reach a consensus about certain issues. He also said that the FPC will make the right move in the weeks to come.
He made these remarks following several political parties, including the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP), and groups having signed an agreement in Colombo to launch a new political movement named the ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ yesterday. The Jathika Nidahas Peramuna led by Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya led by Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila, the MJP led by entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, the Democratic Left Front, the Communist Party, the Independent MPs’ Forum, and several groups took part in signing the agreement to launch the new political movement, the ‘Sarvajana Balaya’.
Meanwhile, a new election-focused alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s faction with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and the group of SLPP breakaway Opposition MPs led by Lanza is scheduled to be launched next month (June) from Hambantota.