PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila speaking at the media conference. PHU Media Secretary Thushara Dissanayake (left) and Kaduwela Organiser Shirantha Liyanage (right) also participated

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Formation of a new political party to centralise all ‘Mahinda backers’ who want former President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to power has suffered a delay due to the postponement of Local Government elections, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday. 

Speaking at a media briefing he said the Joint Opposition would also establish a separate alliance comprising new political forces including the SLFP’s new party. However he said the formulation process of the new alliance has been delayed due to the postponement of Local Government elections. 

“A clear majority of SLFP MPs want to choose Mahinda as their leader again. The only option they have is to create a new political force which be administrated under the new alliance of the Joint Opposition,” Gammanpila said.  

Some political sources said the new alliance would be led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Chairmanship would goes to Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader and MP Dinesh Gunawardena. Other positions including secretary and treasurer will be held by some active MPs representing the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). 

Sources further revealed there were several attempts by a group of SLFPers to establish a new federation comprising Rajapaksa followers, expecting to urge the Government to hold Local Government polls as soon as possible.

PHU claims allowance of 1980 July strikers at stake

The United National Party (UNP) is attempting to take revenge on public employees who took part in the historic July protest by stopping their allowance of Rs.5,000,the Pivithuru HelaUrumaya (PHU) charged yesterday. 

PHU Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila alleged the Government has been decided to remove the allowance which was proposed to bed increase by Rs.1,000viathe 2014 Budget.

“Thousands of public sector employees were sacked in 1980 as July strikers by then UNP Government. Now the UNP wants to continue its revenge against July strikers by eliminating the allowance provided from 2014.”

Gammanpila also claimed this decision has shown a red light for all public servants who voiced their resistance againstthe current administration by conducting protests and several other union actions recently. 

Large numbers of July strikers were fired in 1980 when they held a seven-day strike demanding Rs.1000 of salary increment from the then UNP Government. In 2013 former President Mahinda Rajapaksa granted a Rs.5,000 allowance for all July strikers over 65 years of age remaining without any source of income, via 2013 Budget proposals.