UPFA to take final decision

MR as Prime Minister

After President Maithripala Sirisena announced that he would not agree to the nomination of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime ministerial candidate, the Executive Committee of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will meet soon to take a final decision, informed sources said yesterday.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headed by the President is the core ally of the UPFA. According to the UPFA Constitution, the SLFP chairman virtually becomes the UPFA chairman as well.

At a recent meeting with the UPFA leaders, the President said he could not nominate Mr. Rajapaksa as the prime ministerial candidate.

Along with this announcement, the Executive Committee of the UPFA is planning to meet to take up a final decision. Altogether, there are as many as 19 political parties aligned with the UPFA.

UPFA Secretary MP Susil Premajayantha has already indicated that such a meeting will be called for. Yet, the date has not been announced yet. Among them, the parties such as Democratic Left Front led by MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara have said the President’s position should be defied collectively by them in this instance. “It is apparent that the President is politically leaning towards the United National Party (UNP). We should have our own way as a result.

It is no longer needed to cling to the President,” he said. Meanwhile, the UPFA allies, calling for the candidacy of Mr. Rajapaksa, are planning a major rally in Colombo asking for the dissolution of Parliament immediately.