A new political alliance headed by the UNP, under the name of “United National Front for Good Governance,” is to contest the parliamentary election on August 17 with sections of the SLFP and JHU, sources told Ada Derana. 

Several prominent figures of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) who had not signed UPFA nominations, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) which was recently rebranded as the United National Front for Good Governance as well as certain left-leaning parties are set to join under the “elephant” symbol of the United National Party (UNP). 

The decision is to be officially announced tomorrow (July 11) while the UNP expects to approve the proposal at the party’s special convention to be held in Colombo, sources said. 

Rajitha Senaratne, Hirunika Premachandra, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Hemal Gunasekera, Neomal Perera, M.K.D.S. Gunawardana, Wijaya Dahanayake, Earl Gunasekara, Sarath Amunugama and Duminda Dissanayake have reportedly not signed UPFA nominations  as of yet.

The SLFP - which is the main constituent of the UPFA - had shown signs of an impending split as a result of the continuous political movement carried out by loyalists of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was defeated at the January election, to ensure that he is given nominations to contest the general election. 

However, as the section which had pushed for UPFA nominations to Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed victory and with the President’s decision to offer nominations to several others who have been charged with corruption, a group of SLFP strongmen who had stood for good governance commenced discussions for an alternative front.

As the end result of this, the “United National Front for Good Governance” is all set to claim the limelight come Saturday, sources said.