United Front (Sri Lanka)

The United Front (Sinhala: සමගි පෙරමුණ, romanized: Samagi Peramuna) was a political alliance in Sri Lanka, formed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) in 1968. It came to power in the 1970 general election.[1]

United Front
සමගි පෙරමුණ
AbbreviationUF
FounderSirimavo Bandaranaike
Founded1968
Dissolved1977
Preceded byUnited Left Front
IdeologyBig tent
Factions:
Communism
Anti-imperialism
Sinhalese nationalism
Social democracy
Political positionLeft-wing
Members partiesSri Lanka Freedom Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Communist Party of Sri Lanka

It was conceived by the LSSP as a front of the working class - represented by itself and the CPSL - with the petty bourgeoisie - represented by the SLFP - and by the CPSL as a front of progressive forces.

Goals

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The United Front predominantly aimed at the complete decolonization of Sri Lanka.

International support

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The United Front was heavily anti-British and pro-Soviet as completely opposed to the foreign policy of the United National Party. The UF was supported by the Soviet Union in order to decolonize the island. The pro-dominion UNP criticized this. The UNP that had a majority of Christians wanted to rebel against it.[2][3][4]

Electoral history

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Sri Lanka Parliamentary Elections
Election year Votes Vote % Seats won +/– Result for the party
1970 2,442,402 48.93%
116 / 151
  116 Government

References

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  1. ^ "The United Front of Sri Lanka kand the Emerging Violence".
  2. ^ The 77-year struggle of the Communist Party
  3. ^ Duraisingam, Thambimuttu (2000). Politics and Life in Our Times: Selected Articles Published for Over a Century. Thambimuttu Duraisingam.
  4. ^ "The Foreign Policy of Sirimavo Bandaranaike". Retrieved 30 June 2015.