- SLFP says no need to form such as no poll in sight
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Opposition Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath yesterday (26) said that the NPP will not support the alleged Opposition alliance that is intended to be formed in the future as stated by some members of the Opposition.
He stated this when he was inquired by The Daily Morning yesterday about the statement made by the Chief Opposition Whip and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP, Attorney Lakshman Kiriella that all the leaders of the political parties representing the Opposition in the Parliament had agreed to form a joint Opposition under the Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa.
“No one representing our Party participated in the meeting where the said decision was taken. Therefore, it is baseless to say that all the parties came together to form such an alliance as said by that MP. The NPP has no intention of forming an alliance with any Opposition party, especially with the SJB for any reason. We will not make alliances with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday (25), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairman, former President, and incumbent Opposition MP Maithripala Sirisena stated that the SLFP has also not negotiated to form an alliance with any Opposition party, and also that there is no need for them to do so.
“These days, some media reports are being circulated that the SLFP has an intention to form an alliance with other Opposition parties. I must say that that news is false. We have no such intention and we have no need of taking such a decision when no election is announced. When the Government calls for an election, a decision will be taken considering the political situation that prevails during that time,” he said. He also said that these days, their Party is not focused on forming alliances but on how to reform the Party.
However, replying to Premadasa in the Parliament yesterday, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna dissident and Opposition MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that although they hope to work together with the SJB on certain issues, the Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya will not support their position on some matters such as the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility.
Speaking to the media after a meeting held on Monday (24) at the Parliament premises, MP Kiriella claimed that all political parties of the Opposition had, during a discussion held on that day, expressed their agreement to form a new alliance under the leadership of Premadasa.
Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact Tamil National Alliance Opposition MP, President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran on this issue proved futile.