29 July 2024 04:49 am Views - 139
By Kelum Bandara
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have held talks with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Wijerama residence in Colombo last evening to explore a possible electoral understanding.
It happened in the context of some SLPP MPs having already thrown their weight behind the President while others expressed reservations about it.
However, the already visible split within the SLPP will either be confirmed or ironed out after the crucial meeting to be conducted today to decide whether to support the President at the Presidential Election or field its own candidate.
The party’s executive committee will meet today with Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa in the chair.
The MPs who are loyal to the Rajapaksas have been skeptical on supporting the President. However, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brother Basil Rajapaksa and his son Namal Rajapaksa have remained in contact with the President on and off to explore the possibility of working out a common electoral arrangement.
They have so far remained noncommittal on their stand regarding the election, though. In the meantime, there have been indications that business tycoon Dhammika Perera will also be considered a candidate at the elections.
An inside source said that Mr. Namal Rajapaksa had expressed some reservations regarding support to the President.
The same source said the party leadership will try to strike a balance between the two factions for a common position on the elections.