New Democratic Front formed

New Democratic Front (DNF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, Prime Minister and United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga look on at the memorandum signing ceremony yesterday – Pic by Shehan Gunasekera 

• CBK pledges support to Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy
• Component of SLFPers also sign MoU to be part of NDF 
• PM claims NDF will uphold democracy, hails SP for leading the charge 
• Rajitha says SP has taken up baton given to President Sirisena in 2015 

The New Democratic Front (NDF) was formed yesterday with the involvement of several key political parties including a part of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) backed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, and led by the United National Party (UNP) to support presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. 

Several parties, including the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Democratic National Front (DNF), Upcountry National Front (UNF), Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP), and Democratic National Movement (DNM), were signatories to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the New Democratic Front (NDF) coalition at a function held at Taj Samudra in Colombo.

Heath Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, delivering the welcome note, stressed that the new front brings together stakeholders who held diverse opinions but had united to make Sajith Premadasa the President on 16 November. The Cabinet Minister referred to Premadasa’s candidacy as a continuation of the 2015 revolution, which he insisted needed to be taken forward. “This is an unfinished struggle. We have re-organised and rejuvenated with more (parties) joining us as we move towards our goal,” he said. 

Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa noted that those who joined the front had done so to preserve democracy, social justice, and law and order in the country. 

“Today we mark an important milestone in the effort to establish democracy, justice and bring prosperity to Sri Lanka,” he said, addressing leaders and delegates of political parties and civil society groups who gathered at the MoU signing ceremony. 

Premadasa pledged to uphold the law and protect the sovereignty of the nation while ensuring that Buddhism is given the foremost position as per the Constitution and provide an environment where all religions and ethnicities will be treated equally. He briefly outlined his vision to move Sri Lanka towards a knowledge-based economy by improving the quality of education and empowering youth. “We will create a transitional period in Sri Lankan history,” he said. 

About a dozen civil society organisations also signed the MoU endorsing Premadasa as the presidential candidate. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe commended those present for being the driving force behind the 2015 presidential victory. “Gathered here today are those who stopped the white vans, those who defended democracy and raised their voices when the Chief Justice was suddenly removed,” he remarked. Wickremesinghe charged that currently their efforts at bringing about democracy was being undermined by the call for an authoritarian leader in the guise of providing national security.  “Our opponents have formed an anti-democratic front. However, our presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa will lead our pro-democratic front forward,” he added. Minister Senaratne declared that Premadasa will take over the 2015 baton given to President Maithripala Sirisena, calling Premadasa “a stronger and better runner” in the race to build a stronger democracy in Sri Lanka.