The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to refrain from supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the forthcoming Presidential Election and to take disciplinary actions against SLPP MPs who support the President.
The Party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam announced the SLPP’s decision today. The decision was made during the party’s political bureau meeting today, which was held with the participation of SLPP leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Accordingly, the SLPP will field a candidate for the forthcoming Presidential Election.
The SLPP General Secretary stated that a majority of members have decided to take disciplinary actions against those who contest the Presidential Election without the Party’s consent and approval.
Following the meeting, the SLPP General Secretary told the media that the meeting was held to decide on the party’s Presidential Candidate.
Presidential Candidate should be an SLPP member.
“Today’s meeting was held to decide on the party’s Presidential Candidate. During the meeting, a proposal was presented that the Presidential Candidate should be an SLPP member. Several members were against this; however, the majority agreed,” he added.
Who will be the candidate?
However, SLPP did not reveal who will be the candidate and it was said the party will declare their candidate at a public rally. Sources further said that as they decided earlier Dhammika Perera will be their Presidential candidate.
The SLPP’s political bureau comprises 82 members, 79 of whom participated in today’s meeting. Of these, 11 members, including S.B. Dissanayake and Janaka Bandara Thennakoon, opposed the decision to field a candidate from the Party.
“A poll was conducted regarding the Presidential Candidate. Accordingly, it was passed by a majority that a candidate from the SLPP should be fielded as the Presidential Candidate under the symbol of Pohottuwa (flower bud) for the forthcoming presidential election,” he said.
The SLPP General Secretary also stated:
“If anyone acts against this decision, disciplinary action will be taken against them. Additionally, if any person from the party contests in the presidential election without the party’s approval, disciplinary action will be taken against them immediately.”
“In the next few days, among the candidates currently being considered, the most suitable candidate who can win the presidential election will be presented.”
“Now our party has decided to present a candidate. Therefore, there is no possibility of supporting the current president. From now on, if anyone from our party decides to join another election campaign, disciplinary action will be taken against them,” he said.
