There will be no joint leadership in the alliance: State Minister Shehan Semasinghe

Colombo (News 1st): General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara noted that the draft plan for the registration of the Sri Lanka Podujana Alliance is in place. He noted that the truth is that the former President Maithripala Sirisena never requested for the position of a joint-chairperson.

Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara: I am disappointed over the fact that those who make such claims have no proper knowledge in this regard. Basil Rajapaksa has arrived in the island. The SLFP has already requested for an audience with the President for talks. We have requested another meeting with Basil Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister. Journalist: Some claim you will contest the upcoming general election under the flower bud symbol. Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara: We have no issue with the flower bud symbol as we have to form the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podu Jana Alliance. This is the idea of everyone. There is no issue with contesting the election under the flower bud symbol or using the flower bud as the symbol of the alliance. But we will join the SLPP without a symbol. We will only focus on strengthening unity, and not dividing the forces we formed.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe commenting on this noted that the expectation of the general public is for them to contest the general election under the flower bud symbol. He said that the public will not be happy if this is changed. He stressed that there can be no joint leadership within any alliance. He pointed out that the leader of the alliance must be Mahinda Rajapaksa, therefore, they will ensure there is no joint leader within any alliance we form. He went onto note that a group of SLFPers have made attempts to destroy their unity and the symbol will not be an issue. He added that the symbol accepted by the general public is the flower bud and the main factor vital to winning the upcoming general election is trust. He stated that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have already won the trust of the public. He pointed out that it is very clear that former President Maithripala Sirisena failed to win the confidence of the people. UNP MP S.M. Marikkar also spoke about the issue between SLFP And SLPP;

"There is a rift between the SLPP and the Viyath Maga movement. With a team led by Basil Rajapaksa forming the SLPP, the SLFP is now in shambles. Now president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's policy is to reduce expenditure and reduce state burden. He says he will not import vehicles for state officials and will not expand the cabinet. But what they are trying to do now is to contest from Polonnaruwa, the north and the east and separately contest from other parts of the island, and to form a national government between the SLPP and the SLFP. They will raise the number of ministers to 45 and deputy ministers to 48. So we question the President, will you allow this to happen? Would you agree with this? Or will the number of cabinet members remain at 30?"