The recent discussion between President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa, was not focused on the upcoming elections, the SLPP stated yesterday (10).
According to recent media reports, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa had met Wickremesinghe last week, and the subsequent media reports suggested that the discussion, which focused on the upcoming Presidential Election, was not successful.
However, Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (10), SLPP General Secretary and Sagara Kariyawasam MP refuted such reports, and claimed that the trio had not discussed any election-related matter. “Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa had received an invitation and met with the President. There has been no discussion on any election. Both parties have been of the opinion that it is too soon for the elections to be discussed.”
According to Kariyawasam, during the discussion, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa had explained to Wickremesinghe that it was the mandate they (SLPP) received in 2020 which was transferred to Wickremesinghe through Parliament in 2022. “Those who voted for us wanted to establish a government that does not divide the country, that does not do anything that is harmful to national security, and that does not sell out national assets. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa have informed the President that we expect him to act upon those wishes.”
Kariyawasam added that: “The President has spoken about the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) influence. Mahinda Rajapaksa has then said that he (Wickremesinghe) should be able to balance such influences with national interests as the Head of State.”
After an anti-government public protest campaign ousted the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe who was elected to Parliament through the National List of the United National Party, became the Acting President. Wickremesinghe later became the President with a majority of SLPP Members voting in favour of him in a Parliamentary vote in July 2022.
Source: the Morning
