Move to get more political parties under UPFA rainbow coalition – Minister S.B. Dissanayake

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Denying media speculation of forming a new political alliance by some UPFA members, Social Empowerment and Welfare Minister S.B. Dissanayake spilled the beans of a move to get more political parties under the wings of the UPFA rainbow coalition and strengthen it as a broader alliance.

“A few members who contested under the UPFA banner may attempt to form a separate political alliance. Whatever alliance that will be formed, it would not make any impact without the SLFP. Even the SLFP MPs in the Opposition have no intention to create a rift in the party and SLFP Provincial Council and Local Government members also maintain the same position”, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Minister Dissanyake said President Maithripala Sirisena should lead the UPFA election campaign at the upcoming Local Government polls while former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should take a step back and said that he had no objection to it.

“The former President has only drew the attention to various harassments faced by some UPFA MPs due to the ongoing investigations.

The President will not defend anyone who has committed an offence. But if any Opposition member is harassed, certainly the President will look into it”, he added.