• SLPP Gen. Secy. says both parties policies’ should not be harmed, ready to lead any alliance for PCs Poll 

Stating that a relationship has been established between the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP), following the SLPP's support to elect UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as President, SLPP General Secretary and MP Sagara Kariyawasam said that the SLPP is ready to work with the UNP in a way that does not harm the policies of the two parties.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (12), he said that the SLPP has given all forms of support in Parliament to elect Wickremesinghe as the President, and that a relationship has been built between the two parties based on that. Therefore, he said that the SLPP will continue to work with the UNP if they can do something for the country together, and that further discussions will be held in that regard. 

“We should look how far we can go without harming the policies of the SLPP and the UNP. If we can do something significant for the country, we will definitely work with the UNP following discussions. The SLPP is ready to go forward with any party if doing so will be of help to improve the country and change the future of the country’s youth,” he said.

Speaking at the same media briefing, SLPP MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna said that the SLPP is the most prepared among the registered political parties in the country to contest future elections including the Provincial Councils (PCs) election. Although the holding of an election is not something that the parties can decide, he said that the SLPP is currently fulfilling all basic requirements to contest in elections. 

“There is a big conversation about the PC election. Calling or not calling the election is not our role as a party. It is a decision to be taken by the relevant body (the Election Commission) which holds the responsibilities and statutory powers. As a party, we have to be prepared for an election. I think that the SLPP is the most prepared party among the registered parties. We are ready to contest it as a broad alliance. Even some newly registered political parties came to the SLPP for an alliance,” he added.

The SLPP, which was criticising the UNP-led Government from 2015 to 2019, nominated former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the party's candidate for the 2019 Presidential Election. After his victory, the SLPP secured a huge victory in the 2020 Parliamentary Election, but the UNP suffered a historic defeat with none of its candidates, including Wickremesinghe, being able to enter Parliament. 

Wickremesinghe, who then entered Parliament through the National List, was functioning as an Opposition MP. However, in mid 2022, Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister in the face of massive protests against then-President Rajapaksa and the SLPP-led Government. He was thereafter elected as the President with the majority support of the SLPP in a Parliamentary vote held following the resignation of Rajapaksa from the Presidency in July 2022.\