Sri Lanka's ruling party signs key deal with coalition partners for polls

Sri Lanka's ruling party, the United National Party (UNP), on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its partners in a newly formed political alliance to contest Parliament elections scheduled for next month.

The United National Party signed the MOU with its new partners, formally creating the United National Front (UNF) for Good Governance.

UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickreme and UNP General Secretary Kabir Hasheem signed the MOU on behalf of the UNP.

General Secretary of the National Heritage Party, also known as the Jathika Hela Urumaya, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Chairman of the party, the venerable Athureliya Rathana thero signed the MOU on behalf of the National Heritage Party.

Members of the opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Part breakaway faction and civil society members also signed the MOU with the UNP.

The United National Party had on Saturday proposed and later agreed to register the United National Front after the Aug. 17 Parliament election.

The UNP, at a special convention, agreed on the proposal to also contest the Parliament election next month as the United National Front for Good Governance under the elephant symbol by including members from other political parties who have extended support to the UNP.

The proposal was made by UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim and a vote was later taken by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe announced that the proposal had been adopted following a majority vote at the UNP special convention.

The United National Front will look to campaign for good governance at the Aug. 17 Parliament election with Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Ministerial candidate.