• Prez’s poll campaign comm. member notes criterion for aligning is support for Ranil’s policies 

Even though the United National Party (UNP) of the Government has not taken a concrete decision to form an alliance with the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to contest in the upcoming Elections and has not yet begun any discussions regarding the same, it sees no issue to not form an alliance with the SLPP if a need arises.

This was noted by a member of the committee appointed by UNP Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe to handle his Presidential Election campaign, Dr. K.H. Lasantha Goonewardena who spoke to The Daily Morning in this regard, adding that since the President is planning to contest the Presidential Election as an independent candidate, any party has the opportunity to join the President to support him.

In response to a question as to what factors would be taken into consideration if the UNP is to form an alliance with the SLPP, the latter Party which is being criticised for the economic crisis, he said: “What the country faced was an economic crisis, and the President saved the country from it. There is a feeling now that with the President’s policies, the country can move forward. What we seek is support for that endeavour.”

Moreover, Goonewardena said that the UNP has not reached any concrete decision to form alliances with any other parties either.