The Elections Commissioner has not accepted the registration form of the United National Front (UNF), which is led by the UNP and 10 other political parties, on Friday (5). 

The Elections Commissioner had informed UNF Secretary Weragoda that he did not have the powers to accept the registration form according to the new regulations passed by parliament under the Elections Act.

The UNF would have to contest the general election either under the UNP or any other registered political party.

Although UNF Leaders like Rauf Hakeem and Mano Ganeshan have not objected to contesting the general election under the elephant symbol, they have also proposed that the possibility of

contesting under a common party be considered. General Sarath Fonseka and SLFP (M) Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera have already objected to contesting under the elephant symbol. Everyone has proposed that opposition contest the general election under the swan symbol.

A senior UNP parliamentarian said  that several senior UNP parliamentarians have already proposed to the party leadership that the opposition contest under the same coalition that contested the Presidential election.

The parliamentarian also said that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has had a lengthy discussion with JVP parliamentarians on the possibility of arriving at a common agreement at the general election and that the discussion was fruitful.