Sri Lanka: SLFP extends support to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ahead of polls

Ahead of the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Wednesday announced that they'll extend conditional support to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's election campaign.

"The SLFP will sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) to form a new alliance called Sri Lanka Freedom People's Alliance," said SLFP parliamentarian Nimal Siripala de Silva at a press meet.

The Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on  November 16 and the acceptance of the nominations will be held on October 7, as announced by the Sri Lankan Election Commission last week.

READ: Sri Lanka: Maithripala Sirisena not to contest national polls

Agreement between the parties

SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara further explained the terms and said that the MoUs will be signed by the party within the next two days.

"One agreement is to be signed between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The other agreement will be signed by the SLFP with the presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa," Jayasekara said.

Maithripala Sirisena not contesting National Polls

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has decided not to seek re-election next month after failing to fulfill many of the promises of his first term. A record 35 candidates filed nominations Monday for the November 16 election, with former defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa considered the favorite. Sri Lankan President, Sirisena, who would have had difficulty beating Gotabaya Rajapaksa, did not pay a deposit by a Sunday deadline, making him ineligible to file a nomination.

READ: A record 35 candidates vie for Sri Lanka’s presidency

Sirisena had caused a reckless constitutional crisis the previous year when he assigned ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former political rival as Prime Minister, replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe. However, the Supreme Court ruled against Sirisena's action and reinstated Wickremesinghe. Sirisena had to face severe criticism by the angered public over the government's handling of an intelligence report warning of the Easter Day bombings that killed 250 people. 

READ: Sri Lankan Prez, PM pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, unveil bronze bust

READ: Sri Lanka's Sirisena exits, with reform promises unfulfilled

(With Inputs from ANI)