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UNP’s prospects would improve with party returning to contest LG poll under ‘Elephant’ symbol- Chairman
UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said that the party expected the UNPers to respond positively to it contesting the May 06 Local Government polls under ‘Elephant’ symbol.The former minister pointed out that the UNP was contesting under their own tried and tested symbol after quite some time.
Abeywardena said so when The Island asked him about the prospect of them improving their performance. One-time Galle District parliamentarian said that they were contesting 307 out of 336 Local Government bodies and appeals were pending in respect of some places their nominations were rejected.
The UNP secured 41 LG authorities at the last LG polls conducted on February 10, 2018. Their yahapalana partner SLFP won just 8 LG bodies, whereas the SLPP emerged victorious with 222 LG authorities out of 336 bodies.
Over 17.3 mn people are eligible to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming election. Abeywardena said that the people still had faith in the ‘Elephant’ symbol and May 6 contest was likely to produce desired results.
Responding to another query, the veteran politician said that the UNP last contested presidential election under its symbol way back in 2005. The UNP fielded retired General Sarath Fonseka, Maithripala Sirisena and Sajith Premadasa at 2010, 2015 and 2019 presidential contests under the ‘Swan’ symbol, however at the recently concluded party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe joined the fray as an independent candidate.
Political sources said that with the re-emergence of the UNP, the coalition led by the party at the last parliamentary election has disintegrated. The grouping contested under the’gas cylinder’ symbol under Wickremesinghe’s leadership but ended up fourth with just five MPs, including two National List slots contesting as the New Democratic Front.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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