Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to field business tycoon Dhammika Perera as their presidential candidate, according to internal sources within the party. Perera is expected to officially announce his candidacy within the next week.
During a discussion held last Tuesday, the SLPP formally informed Dhammika Perera of their decision to nominate him for the presidency. Sources revealed that the faction led by Basil Rajapaksa and his team, after assessing the current election landscape and the public response to Ranil Wickremesinghe, concluded that Perera should be their candidate. They also determined that Wickremesinghe’s acceptance of SLPP’s principles and policies was uncertain and could negatively impact the party’s future.
In the meantime, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s brother, Channa Wickremesinghe, has deposited funds on behalf of the President, who plans to run as an independent candidate. Despite this, President Wickremesinghe and Basil Rajapaksa have engaged in several discussions to secure support from within the SLPP.
A group of 30 parliamentarians, including some ministers representing the SLPP, met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week and conveyed their support for Wickremesinghe in the upcoming election. This group, led by MP Nimal Lansa, emphasized the SLPP’s challenges in winning the election with their current candidate. Additionally, 12 district leaders of the SLPP have expressed their support for Wickremesinghe, and it is anticipated that their support will significantly influence the party’s voter base.
As a result, the SLPP is likely to split into two factions: one supporting Dhammika Perera and the other backing President Wickremesinghe. The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, is also considering attracting more SLPP MPs to their party.
