Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena has officially confirmed that he would contest under the political party "Apey Jathika Peramuna" - which has the symbol pigeon. 

Apey Jathika Peramuna was registered by Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera soon after his defection from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. 

Ruwan Ferdinandez, a close ally of Samaraweera, was the General Secretary of the party. The present General Secretary will now have to step down from his position to make way for new office bearers of the party. 

All the parties who support common candidate Maithripala Sirisena will come under the umbrella of Apey Jathika Peramuna and will work together to resolve core issues concerning the country. 

A Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed by all parties of the common opposition on November 28. Today the Jathika Hela Urumaya will officially announce its stance on supporting the common candidate of the opposition at the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking to Asian Mirror UNP National Organizer Daya Gamage said traditional UNP supporters need not worry about the name of the alliance or its simple as the party will always preserve its identity while being part of a broader common opposition platform.