Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga urged people to be patient over the dispute on granting nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the UPFA.

 

Commenting on his Facebook Page, Ranatunga pointed out that President Maithripala Sirisena promised that he will never betray the people who voted for him and that he will not let family rule return.

 

"Even if he does give, it will be a strategical move. Please stay patient" Ranatunga said, commenting on granting nomination to Rajapaksa.

 

Ranatunga also pointed out a comment by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. She said that a progressive alliance consisting of SLFP, JHU and DP will be formed in the future.

 

JHU on Sunday left the UPFA to contest the election from another front. The JHU has renamed itself as Eksath Yahapalana Jathika Peramuna or the United National Front for Good-Governance. Meanwhile, the anti-Rajapaksa elements in SLFP are in discussions on the next strategical move.

 

Meanwhile, it is known that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka's Dempcratic Party has been in discussions on forming an anti-Rajapaksa alliance. Other groups who supported Maithripala Sirisena during the Presidential Election in January are likely to join this alliance, political sources indicated.