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Joint Opposition (Sri Lanka)

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Joint Opposition
ඒකාබද්ධ විපක්ෂය
கூட்டு எதிர்ப்பு
ChairpersonDinesh Gunawardena
Founded2015 (2015)
IdeologySocial democracy[1][2]
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationUnited People's Freedom Alliance
(2004 – Present)
Parliament of Sri Lanka
52 / 225
Website
www.upfa.lk

The Joint Opposition ([ඒකාබද්ධ විපක්ෂය Ekabadda Vipakshaya] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), [கூட்டு எதிர்ப்பு Kuttu Etiruppu] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a political alliance formed by a part of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) alongside several of the major left-wing parties of Sri Lanka. It is currently the largest opposition group in the Sri Lankan Parliament. It was formed in the aftermath of the two major parties, the SLFP and the United National Party(UNP) forming a unity government, leading to a great degree of discontent amongst many SLFP members who went on to form the Joint Opposition alongside other parties from the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). It aims to give voice to the leftist mandate voters provided to the UPFA at the 2015 General Election which many loyal SLFP members felt was abandoned when the party joined the UNP-led government.[3].

The organisation consists largely of Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists and has been very critical of the current administration of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The alliance also prominently includes individuals outside the parliament such as D. E. W. Gunasekera and G. L. Peiris who were denied parliamentary seats due to President Sirisena's decision to appoint defeated loyalists into parliament through the National List.[4]. The current leader of the Joint Opposition is Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena.

Current Constituent Parties

References

  1. ^ de Silva, Nalin (22 March 2011). "Sri Lanka is neither Egypt nor Libya". The Island.
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka: The ethnic divide". BBC News. 16 May 2000.
  3. ^ "Joint Opposition Members sit in Opposition".
  4. ^ "Sirisena laughs at people's verdict".
  5. ^ "Joint Opposition Media Release".