Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Thursday, 8 August 2024 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and the party’s newly announced Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa has called on all party members who have shown support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to return to the SLPP fold.
Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was announced as the SLPP’s Presidential candidate at a ceremony held at the party head office at Nelum Mawatha yesterday. At 38, he is the youngest Presidential candidate to enter the 2024 presidential race.
“After careful consideration, the party decided to make Namal Rajapaksa our Presidential candidate,” SLPP Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said. However, it is widely believed that Rajapaksa was compelled to accept the candidacy after businessman-turned-SLPP MP Dhammika Perera, who was originally slated to be the party’s candidate, withdrew at the last minute citing personal reasons.
SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa, SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, SLPP members Tissa Kuttiarachchi, D.V. Chanaka, Gamini Lokuge, Johnston Fernando, Jayantha Ketagoda, Sanjeewa Edirimanna, Renuka Perera and U.K. Sumith Udukumbura among others were in attendance. Rajapaksa accepted the nomination amidst the chanting of pirith by the Maha Sangha.
However, none of the SLPP MPs who recently extended their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe were seen attending the event. They have expressed their intention to continue supporting Wickremesinghe’s Presidential bid in defiance of the SLPP’s decision to field its own candidate.
Addressing the media following the announcement, Namal Rajapaksa however urged the pro-Wickremesinghe SLPP MPs to engage in discussions, reach an agreement, and return to the party’s fold.
Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the party’s politburo and membership for their trust in him during this challenging period by nominating him as the party’s candidate. He affirmed his readiness to accept the challenge, emphasising that difficult times call for youthful leadership.
“We trust in our supporters and policies. As the SLPP, we aim to bring to fruition the modern political vision expected by the younger generation,” he said.
“As the National Organiser of the SLPP and Presidential candidate, I invite everyone who left to join Ranil Wickremesinghe to set aside all animosity and mistakes and return to our fold. We will definitely win,” he added.
Rajapaksa swore to protect the party, its members and Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and guide the country to success.
The Presidential hopeful stated that he intends to focus on presenting his policies to the people of Sri Lanka rather than criticise those of other candidates. When asked about Perera’s decision to withdraw from the race, Rajapaksa responded, “That is a question that must be posed to Perera. I am here to carry out my duty,”
SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa also called on all MPs who are supporting Wickremesinghe to return and rejoin the party. “Some will definitely return,” he predicted. The senior Rajapaksa expressed confidence in Namal Rajapaksa’s potential to win, citing his own extensive political experience as the basis for his optimism.
He noted that the Aragalaya had called for a youthful leader, and now the Pohottuwa has responded by selecting Namal Rajapaksa. “The youth must support a young leader moving forward. It is their responsibility to assist him now,” he said.
