Former Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that the new People’s Alliance, re-launched on Wednesday has a superior democratic institutional framework and constitution compared to all other political parties.
Yapa said that what is distinct in the new party, the Podujana Eksath Peramuna (People’s Alliance) is its departure from the common practice of relying on a single leader, opting instead for a multiple leadership structure.
He was speaking at the launch event at the Water’s Edge, Battaramulla.
Yapa said that the Leadership Council of the new People’s Alliance unanimously decided to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election campaign for the Presidential poll on September 21.
He commended President Wickremesinghe for steering the country away from the political and social unrest, akin to what happened in Bangladesh following its economic crises.
The new party, formed with those who contested the 1993 Provincial Council election under the People’s Alliance, will be governed by a Leadership Council rather than a single leader.
Yapa said that leaders from various political parties, including Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Mahinda Amaraweera, Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Siripala De Silva, MP Nimal Lansa, and others had collaborated for many months to set up an effective democratic alliance.
“We have successfully brought together MPs from most of the political parties represented in Parliament for the new People’s Alliance,” he said and added that the alliance includes leaders from the Muslim, Tamil, and Sinhala political parties. He said that the Leadership Council has upheld the democratic balance and national harmony.
Yapa said that the new party provides an opportunity for people to rise based on merit, irrespective of their community or religion.
Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) founder Douglas Devananda, Sri Lanka Mahajana Party leader and Kurunegala district MP Asanka Navaratna, Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party General-Secretary D. Kalansooriya, and Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) leader Prof. Tissa Vitharana were among those present at the re-launch of the People’s Alliance.
