SLFP to go before SC for PC polls

• During Central Committee meeting proposes to seek SC order to hold Provincial polls 
• Gives power to President to complete last leg of coalition talks with SLPP 
• SLFP against any announcement of Presidential candidate before coalition finalised   

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee has proposed Provincial Council elections must be held before the Presidential Election, a top official said yesterday. 

SLFP General Secretary  Dayasiri Jayasekera

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera told reporters the Central Committee had proposed that the Provincial Council Elections be held “as soon as possible”, and all efforts, including obtaining a Supreme Court order to do so, should be set in motion. He added that the SLFP would spearhead efforts to seek a Supreme Court order in this regard.   The SLFP Central Committee meeting was chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday night.

It was also decided that President Sirisena, as the leader of the SLFP, will discuss the formation of a new alliance with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, and reach a conclusion on who the Presidential candidate would be from a coalition formed by the SLPP and SLFP. 

“If we are to come together as a collation, then before the Presidential candidate is picked, the coalition must be finalised. We made this request of the President. The Committee gave power to the President to complete the last stage of the coalition talks with the SLPP. The President and the Opposition Leader will now hold discussions on how to move forward. We are strongly against any naming of candidates before a coalition is built,” he said.