COLOMBO (News 1st):- Speaking in Anuradhapura today (February 2), State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna is not in agreement with the joint leadership proposed by the Podujana Eksath Peramuna.

He says;

“More than us, it is the people of the country who want the flower bud to contest separately. Therefore I believe that the team that wins the next election should be a team from the SLPP. Therefore we don’t like to step away from the flower bud and allow another party to gain a parliamentary seat or two. We also saw that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided on holding joint leadership. We do not agree with that proposal. Therefore in any alliance that we make, it could be a separate group, the position of the leader should be held by Mahinda Rajapaksa. There cannot be joint leadership. There is no leader who can be considered as an equal to Mahinda Rajapaksa at the election.”

Q:- There is a request from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party?  

In response, the parliamentarian said;

“No, that cannot be decided by a team because the strongest party in the alliance is the SLPP. Therefore the other parties should agree to the alliance in the manner that the SLPP and common opposition want. We will have no space for the views and opinions of others.”

• President in Parliament, as Justice Minister presents amendments
• People are protesting in ways never seen before: MP Hashim
• Inter-provincial public transport still not in operation
• Prior appointment Mandatory to visit Immigration/Emigration Dept.
• SJB goes to court challenging New Fortress LNG deal