Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna


The Sri Lanka People's Front, commonly known by its Sinhalese name Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, is a Sri Lankan political front. Previously a minor political party known as the Sri Lanka National Front and Our Sri Lanka Freedom Front, it was relaunched in 2016 as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and became the home for members of the United People's Freedom Alliance loyal to its former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The front's leader is Mahinda Rajapaksa. The front's chairman is G. L. Peiris and its secretary is Sagara Kariyawasam.

History

Sri Lanka National Front

The Sri Lanka National Front contested the 2001 parliamentary election in 15 of the 22 electoral districts but failed to win any seats in Parliament after securing only 719 votes across the country. The SLNF contested the 2004 parliamentary election in 17 of the 22 electoral districts but failed to win any seats in Parliament after securing only 493 votes across the country. SLNF leader Wimal Geeganage contested the 2005 presidential election and came in eighth after securing 6,639 votes.
The SLNF contested the 2010 parliamentary election in 19 of the 22 electoral districts but failed to win any seats in Parliament after securing only 5,313 votes across the country. Geeganage contested the 2015 presidential election and came in 19th after securing 1,826 votes.

Our Sri Lanka Freedom Front

In 2015 the SLNF changed its name to Our Sri Lanka Freedom Front and its symbol from cricket bat to flower bud. In early 2016 OSLFF leader Geeganage hinted that there would be change in the party leadership's soon.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna

In November 2016 OSLFF relaunched itself as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, a front for the Joint Opposition, and appointed former Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris, a Rajapaksa ally, as its chairman. Attorney-at-law Sagara Kariyawasam was the front's secretary and its symbol was the flower bud. Kariyawasam is a former Sri Lanka Freedom Party organiser and has served as attorney for Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Basil Rajapaksa, another brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, joined the SLPP shortly after it was formed.
Local elections were held on 10 February 2018. The SLPP contested for the election under its flower bud symbol.

Electoral History

Election yearCandidateVotesVote %Result
2005Wimal Geeganage6,6390.07%
2015Wimal Geeganage1,8260.02%
2019Gotabaya Rajapaksa6,924,25552.25%