• expected to continue in role despite no formal acceptance  

Although former Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa has not yet expressed his desire to officially accept the position of its National Organiser, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) stated that he would perform all the tasks related to that position.

The SLPP's Executive Committee has appointed its new office bearers, leaving the post of National Organiser vacant with a request for Rajapaksa to take over at one point.

When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire about the matter, SLPP's General Secretary and MP, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that as per the SLPP's new Constitution, all its office bearers had to be appointed anew.

"According to our new Constitution, former office bearers were automatically removed. The Executive Committee then met at the official residence of former President and incumbent MP and SLPP Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, and appointed new office bearers," he said.

Despite continuous requests having been made to Basil Rajapaksa to accept the post of National Organiser of the SLPP, he said that the former had not expressed his willingness to officially accept it. Kariyawasam stated: "What he (Basil Rajapaksa) says is that he would anyway perform the duties of the National Organiser as he did in the past. Even the National Convention that was recently held was organised by him. So, with the hope that he will accept it at some point, we decided not to appoint anyone to that post."

The SLPP's Executive Committee had decided to appoint Kariyawasam as the General Secretary, Minister Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi as the Treasurer and Ven. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera as the Chairman. Members to its politburo had also been appointed.