News
SJB-UNP unity talks focus shifts to contesting local council elections together
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP), currently engaged in unification talks, yesterday declared that their immediate priority would be contesting the upcoming local council elections together.
Officials of the two parties said unity talks were progressing positively, and they were looking forward to another round of talks.
UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala told the Sunday Times the talks between the parties were now focused on the possibility of contesting the local elections together. She said they discussed a proposal to contest some areas under the UNP symbol while other areas under the SJB symbol.
She said that they were awaiting the return of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from his overseas visit to brief him on the progress of the talks before convening the management committee and the working committee to take a decision on the talks.
Ms. Athukorala said the talks were progressing positively, and neither the UNP nor the SJB laid out conditions regarding contesting elections together.
She said the grassroots-level supporters wanted both parties to come together.
SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilake explained that four rounds of talks were held between the two parties.
He added SJB initially had a long-term plan to create an alliance between the two parties. But with the local elections scheduled to be held in the near future, contesting the upcoming elections became a topic.
At the meetings, it was first discussed to select a few local government areas and contest the election together. Secondly, it was discussed to contest some areas under the SJB and other areas under the UNP.
He added that a final decision was yet to be taken.
He added that the progress of the meetings was conveyed to party leader Sajith Premadas and the management committee.
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