Freedom People's Congress

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.[2][3]

Freedom People's Congress
නිදහස ජනතා සභාව
LeaderDullas Alahapperuma
FoundersDullas Alahapperuma
G. L. Peiris
Founded2 September 2022 (2022-09-02)
Split fromSri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
HeadquartersKoswatte, Nawala
Ideology
National affiliationFreedom People's Alliance
Colours  Blue
Parliament of Sri Lanka
13 / 225
Not to be confused with Freedom People's Alliance or Freedom People's Front.

History

The 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.[4] 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.[5]

A few days after the defection, the newly independent group named themselves the Freedom People's Congress, opening an office in Nawala.[3]

Ideology

Founding 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.[2][3]

The party's strategic framework emphasised the need to create political freedom and economic freedom, primarily through fiscal conservatism and free market capitalist economic policies, but also including interventionist policies such as foreign exchange controls.[1]

Electoral history

The faction is expected to contest the 2023 Sri Lankan local elections as part of the Freedom People's Alliance, a political alliance also including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Supreme Lanka Coalition.[6]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Nilar, Amani (2 September 2022). "Dullas faction forms the Freedom People's Congress". News First. Colombo. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. "Freedom People's Congress formed to free country of corruption, nepotism and political ignorance". Daily FT. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. "SLPP Chairman G. L. Peiris & several SLPP MPs become independent". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  5. "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.
  6. "New coalition "'Freedom People's Alliance"' launched". adaderana.lk. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.


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