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