Common candidate talks end in stalemate

The talks between The Convener of the National Movement for Social Justice Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, to decide on a common candidate for a possible Presidential Election in January 2015, ended in stalemate on Saturday (the 25th).

Wickremesinghe had pointed out to the Thera that he intended to prioritize discarding the Executive President System once assuming the same office himself. urging the latter to extend his cooperation to him. Ven. Sobhitha replied that he had held talks with several Opposition political parties, civil organisations, university academics and intellectuals, explaining that if Wickremesinghe wants to contest as the common candidate, he (Wickremesinghe) should be identified as an independent candidate outside the UNP party and the elephant symbol.

Wickremesinghe said that he would discuss the proposal with the party and convey the decision to the Thera.

However, UNP sources said party MPs have stated that Wickremesinghe should not contest the election outside the party and the party symbol as the UNP was a single party with the backing of a large voter base in the country. They have also emphasised that Wickremesinghe should not surrender to the demands of any other group in the country, as he is the UNP leader.

by Kevin Andrews

#commoncandidate #ranilwickremesinghe #sobhithathera