Patali Champika Ranawaka, the leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (United Republic Front-URF), said that the decision made by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to present a candidate who has bankrupted the country on his own is very good and accordingly the people should treat that candidate democratically at this time. Ranawaka also mentioned that they should think twice about whether the members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna are still favouring the Rajapaksa family.

He said this on Monday (30 July) while speaking to the media after a public meeting held by the URF in Arawwala, ​​Pannipitiya.

United Republic Front member Dilshan Muthukumarana had organised this public meeting and URF President Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe, Vice Presidents Major General (retired) Tilak Ubhayawardena and Theikshana Gammanpila were also present.

Patali Champika Ranawaka further commented on the questions of the journalists:

Do you have a problem with the members of the SLPP? Or is it only with some group you mentioned?

Actually, we do not have a big problem with the members of the SLPP because they are the representatives of the people and they are a group that has done some work for this country. However, the leadership of the SLPP is headed by a group of people who have been held responsible for bankrupting the country by the Supreme Court. That basically means Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa. If we stand with the political movement led by them, then we stand with a group of people who are responsible for the bankruptcy of this country. We have always understood politics in relation to the most serious issue of the country. Then we cannot stand with the respondents in that most serious issue. But we continue to work with the members of the SLPP. We have worked in our Parliamentary Committees with them. We don't have a big problem with them politically.

Right now a group of the SLPP is supporting Ranil Wickramasinghe. The other group remains in the Podujana Peramuna. What do you think about this?

The SLPP’s decision to present a candidate on its own is a very brave and very important decision. Now there is a candidate put forward by Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa who contributed to the bankruptcy of the country. 

Do you support Ranil Wickramasinghe even though there is a SLPP group with him.?

We have not made a decision about it yet. We went to a discussion process with the SJB after they presented their programme on 14 February. Also, we went to a discussion with the members of SLFP. Others such as Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka have declared that they will stand for Election. So we will decide within the next few days.

The basic problem of this country is that it is bankrupt. The country has not yet recovered from bankruptcy. There is only a temporary relief. Also, the biggest burden of the measures adopted by the Government to get rid of bankruptcy has fallen on the common people of this country. In order to relieve that burden, a medium-term programme should be presented as well as a programme that can pay off the country's debt in the long term. In particular, we have to remember that from 2028 we have to pay the loan at once. Any President who comes to power has to face that challenge. Our aim is to educate the people about a government that can implement that process and establish such a Government.

Are you not directly saying that you do not support Ranil Wickremesinghe?

If Ranil Wickremesinghe came under the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, we would not support at all. But we are open about it now. That is our sustained position. We are not happy about certain steps taken by Ranil Wickremesinghe in the past. Even the measures taken recently regarding the Inspector General of Police. But in the issue of moving the country forward from bankruptcy, which is the basic issue of this country, we think that we should discuss it and reach an agreement especially not with Ranil Wickremesinghe, but with the members of the SLPP. We are also discussing it with the SJB. We will announce our decision in the next few days.

Will you be running for President?

We will make a decision on that in the next few days.

Does that mean it is not?

We will not say that it is not so. We are having a discussion with our members and other people about it. If it is decided in those discussions, I will be asked to present myself. Otherwise we will give our support to a suitable candidate. We do not make decisions alone. As a party, we see the Presidential Election as the result of a negotiated consensus with those who are in alliance with us but not an opportunity to fulfil personal expectations and ambitions. This is an opportunity to make decisions for the country and for our children.

If the SLPP presents a candidate that you can support by this time, would you be willing to support that candidate?

Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The Rajapaksas think of that party as their family property. This is a very sad situation. That is why Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his status in 2015 and 2019. Otherwise he would have lived grandly. As a result of that crime of deceiving 600,000,000 people, today 220,000,000 people are orphaned in this country. Therefore, we do not agree with such a situation in the SLPP. But if those who voted for the SLPP and the MPs who represent it take a different path, we are ready to discuss and are discussing with them.

What do you think about the behaviour of the members of the SLPP at this moment?

I think they have to make a decision now, are they still tied to this Rajapaksa family or, whether to go on an independent path for the country. If they could not decide it by 9 May 2022, we believe that now is the historic moment that will give them the courage to do so.