DNF alliance before end of August - PM Wickremesinghe

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (Aug 5) said that the Democratic National Front (DNF) alliance would be formed before the end of August.

Issuing a special statement, Mr. Wickremesinghe noted that several suggestions had been put forward during the final round of talks of the United National Party (UNP) led alliance.

Accordingly, he said that a need had arisen to delay the launch of the alliance to complete the relevant documentation.

The Prime Minister who is also the leader of the UNP explained that the alliance would comprise political parties and organisations as well. "However, the alliance would be formed by preserving the identity and the independence of these parties," he said.

Mr. Wickremesinghe also observed that an alliance was necessary since a single party could not win the presidential polls alone according to the current trend of politics.

"Our only objective is to win the presidential elections through a UNP-led alliance," he noted adding that the alliance would contest at the upcoming parliamentary elections as well.