20 July 2022 08:39 am Views - 413
By Kelum Bandara
Ahead of the parliamentary presidential vote, the political scene started heating up fast with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa keeping away from the contest to support Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dullas Alahapperuma. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mr. Alahapperuma and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are the contenders for presidency now.
Mr. Premadasa’s change of position took place after a flurry of meetings the previous day with the parties aligned with his Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) making bread with the splinter groups of the SLPP for a consensual arrangement to support Mr. Alahapperuma.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader MP Rauff Hakeem is reported to have insisted at these meetings on Monday that Mr. Premadasa should make a compromise and support Mr. Alahapperuma. This position has been backed by SJB MPs such as Nalin Bandara, Mujibur Rahman, Ashok Abeysinghe and S.M. Marikkar.
However, the party remained split over this with another group opining that Mr. Premadasa should contest as its leader without supporting another party representative.
SJB MP Sarath Fonseka is one among such MPs who wanted Mr. Premadasa to participate in the secret vote.
However, Mr. Premadasa changed his position and decided to back Mr. Alahapperuma.
The SLPP, as the largest party with more than 140 MPs elected on its ticket alone, is also divided with one group planning to back Mr. Wickremesinghe to serve the remainder of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential term. The breakaway groups of the party are clearly with Mr. Alahapperuma.
SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris seconded nomination of Mr. Alahapperuma for candidacy. Earlier, party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam announced that the support would be extended to Mr. Wickremesinghe. Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Alahapperuma are key contenders. The groups backing each of them remain confident of victory. Both sides shrugged off threats from one another.
It is a number game since the candidate who wins more than 50 percent of votes gets elected as the next president.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( SLFP) is also divided in this instance.