The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for supporting the SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa was signed yesterday at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.
The MoU was signed by SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara and SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam.
Addressing the ceremony after signing the MOU, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the national forces including the Maha Sangha played a significant role in uniting the SLFP and the SLPP.
“We had to hold several rounds of discussions before taking this decision. Some people strongly criticized me claiming that I want to join the UNP. As the General Secretary of the SLFP, I wanted to get the support of each and every SLFPer to form a powerful force to support the SLPP Presidential candidate. We didn’t want to fritter away the first opportunity available for us to defeat the UNP,” Jayasekara said.
He further said that all left wing, patriotic political forces have been united to in supporting SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and he predicted that the partnership between both parties will be able to generate 6.5 million votes in the Presidential election scheduled to be held on October 16.
Speaking at the event, SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa appreciated the contribution made by SLFP Chairman President Maithripala Sirisena and SLPP Leader Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in uniting the two parties.
“The SLPP is a powerful political party which achieved a significant victory at the Local Government victory. But the people of this country wanted to unite the SLPP and SLFP.” said the National Organizer.
He assured that none of the members of both parties would be a victim in the future.
Acting SLFP Chairman Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa, SLPP chairman Prof.G.L.Peiris, Senior SLFP Vice President MP Nimal Siripala de Silva, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera and several other Parliamentarians representing both parties participated on this occasion.
(Daily News)