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Former SLFP MPs flock to join SLPP
View(s):The Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s former parliamentarians are flocking to obtain membership in the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to contest the upcoming general elections, amid questions on which symbol th two parties are to contest the upcomin elections. Plantation Industries Minister S.M. Chandrasena told the Sunday Times that several of SLFP members obtained SLPP membership yesterday with many others, including himself, expected to become SLPP members today.
He said the objective was to contest elections under the SLPP as a common front while invitations would be extended to the SLFP and other parties to join them.
He said they did not obtain membership of the SLPP earlier as they had contested under the United people’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and they feared legal consequences of losing their seats in Parliament.
He said, however, since the dissolution, the problem did not arise. Yesterday, former parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa and Shehan Semasinghe were among those who obtained SLPP membership. Former parliamentarian Ranjith Soysa told the Sunday Times they were planning to contest the upcoming Parliamentary elections under the SLPP’s ‘Phohottuwa’ symbol.
“Over the past three years, we have gathered a large support base and it is clear that President Maithripala Sirisena has now accepted our position. Therefore, to take advantage of the process we wish to contest under the Pohottuwa symbol”.
“We will be extending invitations to other parties also to join us,” he said. Former parliamentarian Kanchana Wijesekara, who is due to take SLPP membership today, said they expected all other 54 members who served in the Joint Opposition would take membership in the SLPP.