Opposition coalesces around Anoma Fonseka

• DUNF EAGLE RESURRECTED
• JVP WANTS SWAN

In a “on the run’’ move of improvisation, the Opposition plans to form a new political alliance to contest the forthcoming general election and some opposition parties have suggested fielding Anoma Fonseka, in the event general Sarath Fonseka is not released before the close of nominations.
When Anoma Fonseka was asked, she said “definitely, I will contest the general election on behalf of general Fonseka in case he is not released”.
“I am optimistic that general Fonseka will contest the general election”, she said, however.
But, other parties in the alliance along with the JVP are urging the UNP to contest under the swan symbol and are asking the UNP not to destabilize the united opposition, but the UNP working committee decided to contest under the elephant symbol last Thursday. Meanwhile, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been given the final say and what he decides will be what goes eventually.
It is reliably understood that the Opposition alliance plans to contest under the eagle symbol of the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) if the UNP does not pay any attention to their request.
Meanwhile, the DUNF is expected to appoint general Fonseka as its leader and several political parties currently in the United National Front (UNF) have already agreed to contest with the new alliance if the UNP decides not to contest under a common symbol, sources said.
General Fonseka has also dispatched an appeal to UNP leader Wickremesinghe through his wife, and UNP organizer Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, to unite with the opposition at this juncture. However, UNF party leaders are planning to meet Wickremesinghe again on the subject.
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, DNF leader Mano Ganesan, SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera, NDF leader Achala Suraweera, Nava Sihala Urumaya leader Sarath Manamendra, DPF leader Ariyawansa Dissanayake, Ruhunu Janatha party leader Ajantha Soysa, JVSF leader Padmasiri Samaratunge, JF leader Ruwan Ferdinandez and NDF secretary Sharmila Perera are members of the UNF.