President Sirisena and SLPP begin drawing up plans for elections

Colombo (News1st) - Representatives of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna called on President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also attended the meeting. A number of Parliamentarians expressed their views to the media as they were exiting the meeting. MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya revealed to the media that during the meeting a decision was reached to put out a common symbol and a common name in preparation for the upcoming elections. MP S.M. Chandrasena speaking to the media noted that they had told the president that they will be able to bring in a crowd twice as large as the crowd that the UNP plans to bring into Colombo if given the opportunity. MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara the Secretary of the Democratic Left Front stated that during the meeting the President was informed of the contents in the report on the Sri Lanka - Singapore FTA. Discussions had also focused on how this information could be disseminated to the public. Representatives of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna met the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the official residence in Wijerama before meeting the president. Following the morning meeting, MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that Mahinda Rajapaksa should be credited for developing the current alliance and that the both Rajapaksa and President Sirisena will be considered as the main leaders of the alliance. MP Thilanga Sumathipala revealed that this new alliance which is taking shape is preparing a suitable environment for an election and that they are discussing a manifesto and a program that would reach the people. MP Wimal Weerawansa of the  National Freedom Front stated that President informed them that he would be making a request to the chief justice in the morning along with the Attorney General through the supreme court to give the court order (on the dissolution of Parliament) without any delay. Weerawansa believes that supreme court will give a reasonable judgment before 14th of this month.