SLFP's support to SLPP comes with conditions : Weerakumara Dissanayaka

Colombo (News 1st): A majority of SLFP organizers who gathered in Colombo today (October 4) said, if the SLFP is to support the SLPP at the upcoming presidential elections, it must be carried out subject to conditions. Meanwhile, President Maithripala Sirisena met with SLFP district organizers this afternoon, at the President's official residence in Colombo. The meeting commenced at 12:30 pm and lasted for nearly 3 hours. Subsequently, the general secretary of the SLFP and several others expressed their views to the media. SLFP media spokesperson Weerakumara Dissanayaka noted that if the SLFP is to support the SLPP, all of their organizers are of the stance that certain conditions must apply. He noted that they also stressed that the symbol should be changed. When questioned about the legal issues, the former president claims to have, he noted that there are no legal issues as they solved the issue with the National Elections Commission. He noted that they can handover nominations after changing the symbol. Journalists questioned General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara of his discussions with Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (October 3). Responding to this he noted that discussions between the SLFP and the SLPP were successful and that they have accepted all proposals that were submitted by their party. He added that they also presented the Constitution of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podu Jana Alliance. Jayasekara noted that they received a letter today stating that the SLPP had accepted this, however, the SLPP is yet to submit a response to the letter that was sent by President Sirisena. Meanwhile, during a media briefing today, SLFP MP Thilanga Sumathipala expressing his views regarding his party's arrangement to form an alliance with the SLPP noted that there are 24 hours left and by tomorrow evening, their central working committee will be able to reach a final decision. He noted that they will reach a final decision after analyzing all information regarding the presidential election. Sumathipala added that both parties have agreed to contest under the symbol of the chair during future proceedings. He said there will be a general and provincial council election in the future, therefore, noted that they will have to think about the presidential election on a separate note.