JHU, SLMC, TPA to back Premadasa’s party

• Issue joint statement backing broad alliance under Premadasa to contest poll

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) yesterday threw in their lot with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya or United National Power (UNP), the new political party which is headed by MP Sajith Premadasa.

Former Ministers Champika Ranawaka of the Jathika Hela Urumaya, Rauff Hakeem of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Mano Ganesan of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, in a joint statement, confirmed that they were joining Premadasa’s alliance and would support the formation of a broad alliance to contest the upcoming election under Premadasa’s leadership.

The Election Commission on Tuesday recognised Premadasa as the new leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya while affirming MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara as its General Secretary.