SLFP looks to create board alliance for general election

Colombo (News1st) - Convening a media briefing at the SLFP party headquarters, former UPFA MP Mahinda Samarasinghe expressed his views on the statements issued by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. He noted that while the former speaker claimed during 3 informal meetings that he had a document signed by 116 MPs demanding a vote in Parliament, the former speaker never revealed this document to the public or to them. Samarasinghe claimed that before Parliament was dissolved the Speaker violated standing orders and had the ability to mislead parliament. General Secretary of the SLFP, Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa addressing the media briefing revealed that the SLFP is currently in discussions to form a broad alliance of patriotic forced to defeat the common enemy which is the UNP or the UNF. When questioned about PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's decision to join the SLFP, Piyadasa rationalized it stating that it is common for members of a certain party, even the children of party leaders to leave the party, return and then run for office. He added that their objective is to find the best way of defeating the common enemy. Responding to the same query Samarasinghe noted that they see the outcome of the Local Government election, held earlier this year, as a vote against the Government. he reiterated that this could not be categorized as a vote for the SLPP. Samarasinghe noted that their aim now is to form a broad alliance and go before the people to seek a mandate from them.