Leader of the 43rd Brigade and Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that recent reports that the 43rd Brigade has entered into a political alliance with several political parties representing the Opposition are false.

Speaking to the media, he said: "There were reports to the effect that we have joined Opposition parties to form an alliance. However, we have not joined any political party or alliance so far. We emphasise that the reports that we have joined such an alliance are false."

However, he said, taking into account the current economic crisis in the country, there is a need to build a broad coalition of progressive political forces, and added that the 43rd Brigade is ready to work together with the forces whose principles match those of the 43rd Brigade with openness to build such a coalition.

Claiming that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Rajapaksa-ism (a reference to the political engagement of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa) cannot be carried forward any further, Ranawaka recently said that the country is in need of a youth-based, broad political movement at present.

He said: "We have seen SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa say that he will build the SLPP again. If he is thinking of building an alliance led by the SLPP again, that era is over. What we have to tell those in the SLPP is that the SLPP and Rajapaksa-ism cannot be carried forward any further. Instead, we must create a force that can do something for the country and the people."

In the midst of the prevailing discussions regarding the Local Government election, many political parties and groups have hinted at the formation of political alliances. There has been talk about the formation of such an alliance between the SLPP and the United National Party, while the group of Opposition MPs led by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has also focused on the formation of a political alliance with the support of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and other political parties of the Opposition have also expressed their views that they are ready to compete in the upcoming Election through broad alliances.