The Freedom People's Congress (Sinhala: නිදහස ජනතා සභාව Nidahasa Janatha Sabha) is a political party in Sri Lanka founded by Dullas Alahapperuma, G. L. Peiris and several other former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs in 2022.[1][2]
Freedom People's Congress නිදහස ජනතා සභාව | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Dullas Alahapperuma |
| Founders | Dullas Alahapperuma G. L. Peiris |
| Founded | 2 September 2022 |
| Split from | Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna |
| Headquarters | Koswatte, Nawala |
| Ideology | |
| National affiliation | Samagi Jana Balawegaya |
| Colours | Blue |
| Parliament of Sri Lanka | 13 / 225 |
History
editThe party was formed after a faction of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs led by Dullas Alahapperuma defected from the Rajapaksa-led party on 31 August 2022, and chose to sit in opposition as an independent group of MPs.[3] This followed Alahapperuma's decision to stand in the 2022 presidential election, against the wishes of the majority of his party, who instead supported then-acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe.[4]
A few days after the defection, the newly independent group named themselves the Freedom People's Congress, opening an office in Nawala.[2]
In December 2023, the G. L. Peiris announced that the FPC would form an alliance with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the main opposition party, in 2024.[5] This alliance was launched as the Samagi Jana Sandanaya, and endorsed SJB leader Sajith Premadasa as its presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.[6]
Ideology
editFounding member Charitha Herath stated that the party's aim was to introduce reforms to free Sri Lankan politics from corruption and nepotism and instead promote meritocracy.[1][2]
The party's strategic framework emphasised the need to create political freedom and economic freedom, primarily through economic liberalism and free market capitalist economic policies, but also including interventionist policies such as foreign exchange controls.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Nilar, Amani (2 September 2022). "Dullas faction forms the Freedom People's Congress". News First. Colombo. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Freedom People's Congress formed to free country of corruption, nepotism and political ignorance". Daily FT. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "SLPP Chairman G. L. Peiris & several SLPP MPs become independent". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "SLPP to support Ranil in parliamentary vote for president". Ada Derana. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "G.L. Peiris to build a broad opposition force with SJB". 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Sajith confirmed as Samagi Jana Sandanaya's common Presidential candidate | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Borham, Maneshka (14 November 2022). "Freedom People's Congress to show way forward in achieving political and economic freedom". Daily FT. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
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