Opposition alliance no challenge to Government - PM

Asela Kuruluwanse

Forming alliances among political parties has become a peculiar tradition not only in Sri Lanka but also in other parts of the world today. Whatever alliance the UNP forms with other parties, it will never be an iota of challenge to the Government, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a media briefing after paying homage to chief prelates of Malwatta and Asgiri Chapters Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera and Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera in Kandy yesterday. The entire country knows that all parties which formed the UNF were together and worked in unison in the past. Their union in the past produced no positive result. Even today they will produce nothing fruitful to the country, the Prime Minister said.

Today, the Opposition is on the look out for a common candidate for the Presidential Election. Whoever comes to the contest, he will never be a challenge to the President.

This Alliance will not find any other candidate other than Ranil Wickremeasinghe.

Wickremeasinghe too will not allow that to happen. Even in such an eventuality, he will definitely lose his present position in the party, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister also presided over a Dhana ceremony held at Sri Dalada Maligawa to bestow merit on war heroes who sacrificed their lives in liberating the country.