The UPF supported Maithripala Sirisena at the last presidential election and gave its backing to the UNP at the general election.

Leader of the UPF S. Raj and other members have met Mahinda Rajapaksa at the joint opposition’s coordinating office at Battaramulla and extended their support.

A leading figure of the UNP-affiliate Lanka National Estate Workers Union is due to join the new party too, said Basil Rajapaksa.

2 reasons for Mahinda’s defeat

Speaking to Sri Lanka Mirror, Basil Rajapaksa also said Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost the presidential election due to two main reasons.

The attitude among minority communities and civil society that the Rajapaksa regime was racist, and the ‘false’ accusations by the then opposition that its leaders had committed corruption and fraud were those reasons, he said.

Some thought that to be the truth after the media highlighted the opposition allegations and that affected urban and young voters.

The new party has planned its course in consideration of these accusations.

As the first step, priority will be given to win confidence of minority parties and the support of the UPF is the first signal in that regard, said Basil Rajapaksa.

The present administration itself has now proven false the allegations that top leaders of the Rajapaksa regime had swindled billions of money, and false accusations are being leveled to send us behind bars, he charged.