SF hints at political alliance with CBK, while retaining DP identity

July 7, 2013, 12:00 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Democratic Party (DP) leader General Sarath Fonseka has hinted of his eagerness to form an alliance with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga ahead of the forthcoming elections to the Northern, Central and North Central Provinces.

Responding to a query by Lanka D. Jayawardhana, of Jaffna based Dan TV, the former Army Commander said that he wouldn’t hesitate to reach an understanding with the former President, as their political thinking was alike now.

General Fonseka revealed that he had been discussing the matter with the former SLFP leader. They were seen shaking hands at the American Independence day celebrations at the Colombo Hilton last week.

The DP leader was meeting the media at the Jaffna press club during his first visit to the Jaffna peninsula since the presidential election campaign in early 2010.

Asked whether he was ready to forge a political alliance to contest the three provinces, General Fonseka insisted that whatever the arrangement with other political parties, the DP would contest all three provinces under its own symbol. Although the DP was ready to set up a political alliance to contest the polls it wouldn’t under any circumstances forgo its identity to facilitate a political alliance, General Fonseka said.

When queried whether the DP could forge an alliance with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for the first northern provincial council elections. General Fonseka said that the DP was ready to explore the possibility of working with any political party.

The TNA backed General Fonseka’s presidential election bid in early 2010.

Addressing a group of DP supporters at the Millennium hotel, General Fonseka alleged that the manipulative Rajapaksa administration was planning to field the likes of disgruntled LTTEers namely; arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, propagandist Daya Master and women’s wing leader Thamilini on the UPFA ticket. The DP chief said that the government was trying to exploit the situation.

General Fonseka also visited the Nallur Temple, where he met devotees.