Sri Lanka, July 14 -- The August 5 general elections will definitely mark the death knell for Sri Lanka's two premier national parties, the United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that ruled the country either as a single party or as the leading partner of an alliance for more than three decades each.

Two major national political parties that took turns in ruling the country for seven decades are about to bite the dust, perhaps ending the healthy democratic system, in which these two parties ensured a stable government and a strong Opposition in the Parliament most of the times.

The SLFP was relegated to be a minor partner in the 2015 government, and within five years the UNP too is faced with the danger of reduci...