Negotiations between the United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) regarding a potential alliance for the upcoming general elections have reached a critical juncture. Talks between the two political parties, initiated to explore a joint candidacy, have stalled due to two major demands put forward by the SJB.
Sources within the UNP have revealed that although approximately eight rounds of discussions have taken place, progress has been hindered by the SJB’s insistence on two key conditions:
- Contesting the general election under the SJB’s Telephone symbol.
- Excluding UNP leader and former President Ranil Wickramasinghe from the new alliance.
The UNP, however, has pushed back on these terms, particularly regarding Wickramasinghe’s involvement. Party representatives argue that a significant portion of the votes Wickramasinghe received in the last presidential election were personal votes, which strengthens the need for his inclusion in any electoral alliance.
Additionally, the SJB is calling for Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to head the new alliance, a proposal that has also been met with resistance from the UNP side. Given these disagreements, the continuation of negotiations appears increasingly uncertain.
Despite these challenges, UNP members recently reaffirmed their support for Wickramasinghe’s leadership. A meeting of the Neluwa Constituency Committee held on September 28 passed a resolution backing Wickramasinghe to remain as party leader.
On the other hand, SJB representatives, including former MP Harshana Rajakaruna, have been vocal about their stance. Speaking at a party meeting in Gampaha, Rajakaruna indicated that calls for Wickramasinghe to retire “with dignity” have been made on multiple occasions.
Amid these developments, the possibility of further negotiations has not been completely ruled out. Saman Ratnapriya, a former parliamentarian, has stated that there is still room for dialogue between the two parties.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) has decided to contest the upcoming general election under the United People’s Alliance, following their political committee’s meeting on September 29. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), led by Ilangei Tamil Arasu Katchi, is also exploring the possibility of contesting in regions beyond the North-East, including Colombo, according to their media spokesperson and former MP MA Sumanthiran.
The ongoing negotiations, internal party debates, and broader alliance discussions suggest a turbulent road ahead for both the UNP and SJB as the general election draws near.
