SLPP-SLFP coalition members to contest separately in north and east

Thursday, 20 February 2020 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Coalition eyes more seats in north and east
Says all parties will get back together once election is over
Acknowledges SLPP has failed to perform strongly in north and east

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said that the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya (SLNPS) had decided to let coalition members contest independently in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in an effort to secure more votes from minority ethnic communities at the forthcoming General Election.

SLNPS leaders met on Tuesday at Temple Trees to finalise nominations for those contesting in the north and east. During discussions, the SLNPS decided to contest the north and east separately.

Lands and Land Development State Minister S.B. Dissanayake

Speaking to the media at the SLPP head office, Lands Development State Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the decision was taken by the leaders of the coalition to give more space to members of political parties to reach minority communities.

“It was a strategically taken decision to get more seats as we are now focusing on getting 150 seats in Parliament. All these parties will get back together once the election is over. This is a decision taken by the leaders of the coalition after lengthy discussions,” he said.

Dissanayake acknowledged that the SLPP was not the favoured political party of voters from the north and east, therefore alternative measures would give them a better chance to gain votes.

“It is obvious when it comes to the north and east that the SLPP is not the favourite choice of the people in those areas but if our member parties contest individually there might be a chance to get more votes. However, we are confident that we will be able to get more votes than we did at the Presidential Election and Local Government Election in the north and east,” he added.

The Government last week issued an extraordinary gazette declaring Saindamarudu an Urban Council, which was an election promise of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. When asked whether this was an attempt to reach out to the communities of the area, Dissanayake said the decision to declare Saindamarudu an Urban Council was due to technical reasons.

Pic by Ruwan Walpola