19 August 2023 12:00 am Views - 354
A key figure from a political party aligned with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) disclosed that a group of SJB Members of Parliament (MPs) willing to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe have stipulated specific conditions. The source, who insisted on strict anonymity, revealed that these MPs are prepared to throw their support behind the President if and only if he dissolves Parliament and conducts a fresh round of elections.
According to the confidential source, the crux of this arrangement involves the conduct of a General Election.
The SJB MPs in question have reportedly communicated to President Wickremesinghe that their endorsement is contingent upon the immediate call for a General Election. Should the SJB secure a majority in the future General Election, the MPs propose that Sajith Premadasa be appointed as the Prime Minister.
In the event that the SJB fails to secure a majority, the President would retain the prerogative to appoint an alternate Prime Minister. This nuanced proposition forms the core of the agreement that the group of SJB MPs, wishing to align with President Wickremesinghe, have put forth.
The undisclosed source further highlighted previous reports indicating the desire of certain SJB MPs to extend support to President Wickremesinghe, under the condition that Mr. Premadasa assumes the Prime Ministerial role in the event of a favourable outcome for the SJB in the upcoming General Election.