By unusuma.lk on (LK time)
Former Governor Naveen Dissanayake has announced that a significant political discussion is set to take place within the next 10 days between United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa.
This meeting aims to establish a joint alliance between the UNP and the SJB for the upcoming local government elections. Dissanayake revealed that several additional face-to-face discussions between the two leaders are planned to solidify the alliance.
Key topics to be addressed include the name of the alliance, its election symbol, and the preparation of candidate lists. Two initial rounds of critical discussions between the UNP and the SJB have already been held in recent days. According to Dissanayake, these discussions could achieve success if conducted through a leadership council.
He also noted that there is growing consensus on contesting under a common symbol acceptable to all parties, excluding the UNP’s elephant symbol and the SJB’s telephone symbol.
Additionally, Dissanayake disclosed that the UNP plans to engage in discussions with other opposition parties, including the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly instructed the party’s working committee to finalize these discussions, including those with the SJB, by February 10.
Dissanayake emphasized that candidate selection for the alliance should reflect sensitivity to public expectations, with each party allocated positions on the candidate list proportional to the votes they secured in the last general election.
