Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne yesterday (12) said that the SLFP will be ‘helpless’ if the ruling party competes under the New Democratic Front (NDF) in the upcoming General Election.

Speaking at a meeting in Mathugama, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would not be able to secure a single seat in the General Election if the ruling party competes under the New Democratic Front.

“If the SLFP supports the ruling party and the 100 days programme, the SLFP will be further strengthened and therefore will be able to secure a majority in the general election”, the Minister said.

Minister Senaratne asserted that if the ruling party competes under the New Democratic Front a majority of power will be with the United National Party (UNP) and that the Presidential Election ‘heat’ will be a catalyst for the UNP’s General Election campaign.

Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary and Minister of Highways Kabir Hasheem earlier stated that the United National Party will compete independently in the General Election.

During the Presidential Election, common candidate Maithripala Sirisena competed from the 'New Democratic Front' which was formed by the break-away group of the UPFA and the United National Party.

(Hasitha Ayeshmantha)