Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, whose appointment as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairperson has been temporarily suspended by a Court order, claimed that he will be the Presidential candidate representing the SLFP led alliance.   

Meanwhile, speaking to the media in Anuradhapura on Monday (17), Dr. Rajapakshe claimed that he will be the Presidential candidate representing the SLFP. In response to a question raised by a journalist in this regard, Rajapakshe claimed: “Not as a Party; we have formed an alliance. They have decided to appoint me, representing the SLFP and the alliance and I am ready to face it accordingly.”

Meanwhile, former President and incumbent Opposition Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena claimed that he resigned from his position as the Chairperson of the SLFP for the betterment of the Party and its members. He further claimed that there is an ongoing ‘national conspiracy’ aimed at destroying the SLFP, and that he appointed Dr. Rajapakshe as the Acting Chairperson of the Party as there was no other person qualified to hold the said position within the SLFP. Speaking to the media in Galle, Sirisena claimed: “If I didn’t resign from my post in the backdrop where a former President (Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga) filed a Court case against me resulting in restraining orders, none of these organisers would be able to contest in the Election as the Election Commission does not accept such candidates. This is why I resigned. When Dr. Rajapakshe assumed the post as the Acting Chairperson of the Party, there were numerous allegations. Such allegations include statements that I obtained Rs. 170 million, and that I sold the Party due to being unable to secure funds for my Court cases. I appointed him as the Acting Chairperson after my resignation as there is no other suitable person to hold the Chairpersonship of the Party. If I reveal their past, they would have to run away. They are attempting to hold the Chairpersonship without any shame of their doings.”