Denying speculation of the Joint Opposition’s (JO) involvement in the formation of the new political party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith de Zoysa said that the JO has decided to hold discussions with the newly formed party and seek its support to form a broad anti-government alliance.
All 51 MPs in the JO have given their consent to form a broad anti-government alliance. At present, the JO under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is holding discussions with various political parties, MP Zoysa told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Even some of the political parties and various pressure groups who contributed the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena are also holding discussions with former President Rajapaksa and expressed their willingness to join hand with him.
We are even discussing with some of the Ministers in the Government which also includes some UNP Ministers and MPs as well, he said.
However, all 40 SLFP MPs in the JO are still SLFP members and we have not taken any decision whatsoever to quit the party or form a new party.
As an intellectual and a senior politician, former External Affairs Minister Porf. G.L. Peiris who is one of the front liner in the JO has taken a political decision to take over the chairmanship of the newly formed party.
However, the members in the JO don’t have contradictory views and we all would closely work with the newly formed party as well. Because our ultimate goal is to form a broad anti-government force.
Definitely, the new party would also join hand with us.
JO front liner denied certain media reports that the new political party will be launched under the patronage of former President Rajapaksa at Anuradhapura on November 18. However, MP Zoysa said that President Maithripala Sirisena was the Chief Guest at the UNP convention.
Therefore, if former President Rajapaksa is also invited to join the launch of new party, he may not turn down that request.