SLFP split in two, CBK to lead Progressive Front:

UPFA stalwarts in new Front

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

UPFA stalwart, Land Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena yesterday confirmed the formation of a broad political front with the UNP, named the United Front for Good Governance, to rally forces against those determined to reverse what he called the January 8 silent revolution.

The new political front which is still to be formed will use the UNP’s Elephant symbol until it is registered as a political party.

Nearly 13 UPFA stalwarts including Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga, Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Earl Gunasekara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera and Hirunika Premachandra have already expressed their willingness to join the Front, he told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

“We had to take a decision on our electoral platform of good governance to safeguard the people’s mandate given to President Maithripala Sirisena on January 8. We decided to form a broader political alliance with the UNP and several other political parties to make it a reality. I will contest from Trincomalee under the Elephant symbol,” Minister Gunawardena said. Frontliner S.B. Nawinne crossed over to the UNP a week ago.

Minister Gunawardena said the decision to part ways was due to the party decision to give nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “We are unable to work with corrupt political elements within the UPFA,” he said.

He said the ideological differences between the UNP and SLFP will be overlooked in their quest to introduce clean politics to the country under the common front. “We opposed corruption within our party. No action was taken against wrongdoers.

It was embarrassing and self-defeating to remain there.

The symbol or the party that we contest is not the issue today. We are willing to contest even under the cockroach symbol to achieve a better quality of governance in the island.”

On an imminent split within the SLFP, the Minister confirmed that a split was obvious and unavoidable. “A large number of SLFP stalwarts has rallied round former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga including myself,” he added.

Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said a group of UPFA stalwarts has already reached a consensus to form a broad alliance with the UNP, JHU and alternative groups of the LSSP and CP to ensure the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his corrupt supporters. “While some will join us, others have decided not to contest, while extending support to the new coalition’’ Senaratne said.

Meanwhile, Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister, Piyasena Gamage, rejected media reports about his likely move to support the new front, claiming he has already signed his nomination papers.

JHU National Organiser, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe, said the JHU will sign an MoU with the UNP shortly. Warnasinghe said the JHU’s decision to quit the UPFA was based on policy and not entirely linked to former President Rajapaksa being given nomination.