The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) stated that the opinions expressed by some of its members regarding the upcoming Presidential Election are only their personal opinions, and that a decision will be reached regarding the same as a Party, after conducting a comprehensive evaluation and survey of the political situation at the ground level.
With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held this year (2024), certain SLPP members have expressed their intention to support the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe while some others are of the view that the SLPP should field their own Presidential candidate.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, SLPP General Secretary and Government Parliamentarian, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that it is the Party's stance that matters, and not the personal opinions of its (SLPP) members. “We all should meet to make a decision on this matter as a Party. Before that, we should carry out comprehensive assessments and surveys of the ground level political situation. Just because one or few members think or say that this particular candidate should be supported, we cannot do it. It is as per the wishes of our Party members at the grassroots level that we have to work,” he said.
He also said that it is too early for them to discuss and make decisions pertaining to the Presidential Election as there are several months left for it to be held. “There are about eight months left for the Presidential Election. When we look at the past, it was the candidates who were fielded within very short notice that became the President. Former Presidents Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Maithripala Sirisena were all fielded within very short notice. Therefore, we have more than enough time to make decisions,” he went on to say.
Several leading political parties have already hinted at the candidates who would possibly be fielded by them. Among them are incumbent President and United National Party Leader Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led National People's Power Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.