Former Minister and National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has announced that neither he nor his party will contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections. In a press release, Weerawansa declared that the NFF would not participate “either in alliance or independently” in the election, following extensive discussions within the party’s ranks.
Weerawansa also raised concerns about potential foreign interference in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, referencing the warnings issued by some countries ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. He stated, “It is now no secret that their desire was to ignite conflicts by exploiting the uncertainty surrounding the results of the presidential election.”
Addressing the speculation surrounding Anura Dissanayake, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Weerawansa issued a stark warning: “There is no doubt that some opposition forces have a desire to make President Anura Dissanayake the ‘Second Gotabaya.’” He further emphasized, “We also responsibly assure the general public that our party represents that interest and will not contribute to making the country more vulnerable to crisis.”
Reflecting on his party’s decision to abstain from the elections, Weerawansa noted, “By playing the role of the traditional opposition in the parliamentary election battle, we think that creating a conflict between the majority of people’s expectations and our expectations is a negative action compared to the ultimate goal.” He assured the public that this was a “political decision taken by discussion in the organizational machinery of our party at all levels.”
The NFF, which secured seven parliamentary seats in the last election, has faced internal divisions, with four members leaving the party. Despite these setbacks, Weerawansa reiterated the NFF’s commitment to navigating Sri Lanka through its current challenges, warning of the geopolitical tensions that could shape the country’s future. “The future fate of Sri Lanka will be decided by the way the Sri Lankan state and people act in the geopolitical and military tension that is building in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Weerawansa concluded by signaling that the NFF will soon announce its strategy for the political process going forward, promising to unveil “proposals or the statement related to the principled division” for the upcoming elections.
