The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) are focusing on the possibilities of contesting together at the upcoming Local Government elections which are likely now due to be held after the New year in April.
Both, the SJB and UNP, after a several rounds of talks are now discussion with the possibility of contesting elections together.
The representatives of the two parties said that the discussions are progressing positively and they are looking forward to another round of talks.
The General Secretary of the UNP, Thalatha Athukorala said that the discussions are underway with the SJB and the discussions are how to face the local election. “It was discussed on contesting in some areas under the UNP symbol while contesting the election in other areas under the SJB symbol,” she added.
She said that they are awaiting the return of the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from overseas to brief him of the progress of the talks.
She added then they would call the Management Committee meeting and Working Committee meeting and decide whether they are to continue with the talks.
Ms Athukorala added that currently the discussions are being held positively. She added that neither the UNP nor the SJB laid out conditions regarding contesting elections together.
She said that the ground level supporters’ aspirations are for both parties to join together as base supporters of both parties are from the UNP.
SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilake explained that there are four rounds of talks held between the two parties.
He added SJB initially had a long term plan to create an alliance between the two parties. But as the local elections are upcoming, how to contest the upcoming elections were discussed.
At the meetings first it was discussed to select a few local government areas and contest the election together. Secondly it was discussed to divide all the local council areas and contest some areas under the SJB banner and contest another area under the UNP banner.
He added that despite these matters being discussed they have not reached a final decision and finalized their plan.
He added that the progress of the meetings were notified to the Management committee and Party Leader Sajith Premadasa.
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