PC polls:
UPFA for broader alliance
Rasika SOMARATHNA
COLOMBO: The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is set to form a
broader alliance to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections
for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces with several parties
voicing interest in joining ranks to form such a front.
More than 12 political parties took part at a recent meeting chaired
by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees to discuss matters
pertaining to the elections.
The meeting was attended by parties such as the UNP(D), MEP, JHU, CWC,
LSSP, Communist Party, factions of SLMC, UPF, DLF, Bhumiputhra Party,
Mahajana Party and DVJP in addition to the SLFP.
According to UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha they
are prepared to take other parties with similar ideologies into the fold
to forge a broader front at the polls.
However, the final UPFA nomination lists are expected to be finalised
by the end of this week and all former members including the two Chief
Ministers of the Councils are to receive nominations, sources said.
The UPFA nomination committee includes Premier Ratnasiri
Wickramanayaka, Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, D. M. Jayarathne, Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa, Dullas Alahapperuma, Nimal Siripala de Silva, A. H.
M. Fowzie and Susil Premajayantha.
It is believed that the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) which had one
seat in the former Sabaragamuwa Provincial council would go it alone but
would support the UPFA after the elections. However, a final decision
regarding the matter is expected to be arrived at before the end of the
week, CWC sources said.
The other main contender, the United National Party is also on the
election trail and has announced its Chief Minister aspirants,
educationist, Upul Shantha Sannasgala for Sabaragamuwa and one time Army
Chief of Staff Major General (retd.) Janaka Perera for the North Western
Province.
Meanwhile, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake is set to
announce the date of the poll immediately after he releases the notice
following the closure of nominations, according to Deputy Commissioner
of Elections W. P. Sumanasiri.
According to Sumanasiri the date should fall within a period between
five to eight weeks after releasing the election notice.
The period of accepting nominations is from June 27 to July 04. Thus
according to analysts most probably the poll is set to be held either at
August end or early September. |