- Businessman out of the race? Namal the chosen one?
- Ranil supporters to fight any disciplinary action
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday morning said that its Presidential candidate will be announced today (7).
However, last evening, party sources told The Daily Morning that frontrunner for the SLPP’s presidential candidate, businessman Dhammika Perera has expressed reservations about standing as the Party’s candidate. A letter reportedly penned by Perera and addressed to SLPP General Secretary and Government Parliamentarian, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam informing the latter of the former stepping out of the Presidential race citing personal reasons was circulating on social media yesterday. However, attempts made to contact Kariyawasam to clarify the status of the SLPP candidate and if Perera had stepped down, failed.
Later, SLPP member and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weerathunga speaking to a broadcast channel last evening stated that Perera has communicated his reluctance to stand as Presidential candidate, and that his mind may be changed by today morning. “If Perera does not renew his willingness to stand as our (SLPP) candidate, our Namala (a possible reference to Government MP Namal Rajapaksa) is ready. If that happens, SLPP Leader and former President and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa will ask our people to stand with the SLPP and announce that Namal Rajapaksa is our candidate at our Nelum Mawatha office tomorrow morning” Weerathunga said.
Meanwhile, many constituency meetings of the SLPP are passing resolutions in order to back President and independent Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe during the Presidential Election.
In the meantime, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe has responded to the letter issued by Kariyawasam stating that disciplinary action will be taken against SLPP members who defy the decision reached by its Politburo regarding the upcoming election, which is not to support Wickremesinghe but to field their own candidate.
Semasinghe has pointed out, in writing, that neither he nor the supporters of the SLPP are bound by the resolution passed by the Party’s Politburo on 29 July. He has also stated that accordingly, actions will be taken against any disciplinary action that the Party would seek against them.