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In a rare gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe with former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, along with Basil Rajapaksa and SLPP MPs Namal Rajapaksa and Dhammika Perera at the ceremony to mark 27 years in politics by SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena in Kalutara on Saturday
Basil Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa has pledged his party’s continued support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
At a ceremony to mark 27 years in politics by SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena at the Kalutara Public Ground on Saturday, Rajapaksa expressed the party’s support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the best interest of the country.
Abeygunawardena is the National Conevenor of SLPP and the event was attended by prominent figures including President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, SLPP organiser Namal Rajapaksa and presidential aspirant SLPP MP Dhammika Perera.
Addressing President Wickremesinghe from the stage, Rajapaksa clarified that the SLPP’s support for Wickremesinghe and their participation in the current Government was not driven by fear or threats.
Rajapaksa recognised the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa to take SLPP forward as well as President Wickremesinghe with whom the SLPP is a key party to the current Government.
“I am proud to say we (SLPP) supported you (Wickremesinghe) not out of fear or indebtedness. We are neither afraid nor owe anyone anything. Everyone in our party at the time took the decision that only you could save the country at that critical juncture. Therefore, we supported you with good intentions then and we continue to do so today,” he said.
Rajapaksa also pledged the SLPP’s ongoing support for Wickremesinghe. “We will extend our support to you going forward as well, on behalf of the country and its people. As long as you protect the country and its people, we will continue to strengthen you,” he assured.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also attended the event, emphasised the importance of working with leadership that is committed to advancing the country and accepting its challenges.
The statement comes at a time when there is significant discussion about President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Presidential bid in the upcoming elections and whether the SLPP will back him or field their own candidate. Business leader turned SLPP MP Dhammika Perera on Friday announced his readiness for Presidency if SLPP makes a firm decision. While Wickremesinghe has already launched his campaign, the SLPP has yet to name a candidate, fuelling speculation that they might support United National Party (UNP) leader Wickremesinghe’s candidacy instead.
