Political parties led by the United National Party (UNP) in the United National Front (UNF) along with the Api Sri Lanka movement led by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga and several other political parties yesterday (1) signed the agreement to form the Democratic National Front (DNF).
Accordingly, 28 political parties and 30 civil society groups have signed the agreement at a ceremony held at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo with the participation of political party leaders of the political parties including UNP leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Kumaratunge, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary, Minister Champika Ranawaka, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader, Minister Rauff Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader, Minister Rishard Bathiudeen and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader, Minister Mano Ganesan.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member Ruwan Ranatunga signed the agreement on behalf of the 'Api Sri Lanka’ movement, while Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna signed the agreement on behalf of the DNF.
Dr. Senaratne said the DNF will support New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and would commit themselves to upholding democracy and freedom.
“This is the struggle to continue the unfinished task undertaken in 2015. Even though the candidate is different, we will fulfill the task that we couldn’t complete during past five years,” he said.
NDF presidential candidate Saith Premadasa said they would engage in international affairs that would only be beneficial to the country.
“We will never enter into agreements detrimental to the country and betray the country. We will give prominence to Buddhism while respecting the values of other religions and traditions,” he noted.
Premadasa said they would embark on a development strategy which would be based on social democracy so that the people would receive the benefit of development equally.
He said they would create a digital revolution where traditional agriculture and traditional industries would be further enhanced by providing government assistance.
