WEB DESK
In Sri Lanka, the first round of discussions between the opposition parties United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) have agreed to contest the upcoming local government elections as a united front.
In the last General Elections, the UNP and SJB ran separately, leading to disappointing outcomes for both parties. Party members and supporters have since urged to reconcile, emphasising the need for unity to secure significant victories. Responding to these calls, representatives from both parties convened at a private hotel in Colombo last night to initiate dialogue. Key UNP figures, including Ruwan Wijewardene, Thalatha Athukorala, Gayantha Karunathilaka, and Harshana Rajakaruna participated in the meeting.
While details of the discussions remain under wraps, the successful outcome marks a significant step toward consolidating political efforts between the two parties. Further talks are expected in the coming weeks to finalize strategies for the upcoming elections. The local government elections have been due since March 2022 and are expected to be held within the first three months of 2025.