Sri Lankan opposition members join ruling party for polls

Several opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members have decided to contest the parliamentary elections set to take place next month with the ruling United National Party (UNP), an SLFP member said on Saturday.

SLFP member M.K.D.S. Gunawardena said so far at least 13 SLFP members have informed President Maithripala Sirisena, the SLFP chairman, that they will be contesting the August 17 election under the UNP elephant symbol.

Among the SLFP members contesting with the UNP are SLFP members and ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Arjuna Ranatunga.

Meanwhile, the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a former alliance partner of the SLFP, said it was also in talks with the UNP and was expected to sign an agreement on contesting under the UNP elephant symbol.

JHU spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said the final agreement between the JHU and UNP.