JO parties to enter election fray individually! Sama Samaja party to take on Balaptiya alone!!

Political sources claim that due to ongoing internal conflicts within the Joint Opposition, several parties within the JO are planning to contest the upcoming local government polls under their own party banners. Soures say several parties will as a result contest individually in certain electoral divisions.

Accordingly, the Sama Samaja party is in discussion to contest for the Balapitiya municipality division separately while Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) led by Dinesh Gunawardena may settle on handing in nominations under their own party banner for the Ampara, Seethawaka and Maharagama electoral divisions.

Wimal can leave if he pleases

Meanwhile, the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (National Freedom Front) led by Wimal Weerawansa is also currently in discussion to follow suit if the party does not receive a significant number of nominations through the JO sources say.

Reports claim that while Weerawansa has requested 10 percent of the nomination slots to be reserved for his party, however, the front liner of the new Sri Lanka Podhujana Party, Basil Rajapaksa has raised his opposition in this regard.

It is said that Rajapaksa is of the opinion that the Jathika Nidahas Peramun contesting individually will not be disadvantageous to the JO or make any impact on the overall result of the polls.

SLFP to contest under 'hand' and 'beetle leaf' symbols

Discussions are also said to be underway within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party about the upcoming polls. According to sources, the SLFP (SLFP) may contest the election under the 'hand' symbol in the South and North while it will use the 'beetle leaf' symbol going under the banner of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party in the hill country.

"We have had a request to contest LG polls under the hand symbol in the North," an SLFP stalwart told ISIS.

SLFP back to its rightful owners?

Meanwhile attending a JO press briefing held yesterday (07) Former parliamentarian G.L Peiris claimed this election will go on to reveal the rightful owners of the SLFP. The status of the current government can be deduced from the results of the LG polls, Peiris said.