Presidential candidates double down on efforts to woo minor, minority parties

August 03 - In the wake of declaration of the Presidential Elections, the main candidates, particularly President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa have doubled down on their efforts to woo various parties and individuals, particularly those representing the minority communities to strengthen their bids for presidency.

Political dynamics also keep changing in this context by the day in the lead up to the election as a result.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe who has already announced his intention to contest secured the support of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) led by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, a development that can be seen as a shot in the arm for him otherwise disillusioned with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) abandoning him last Monday.

In his next step to boost his campaign, the President held talks with Ilankai Tamil Arachu Katchchi (ITAK) MP for the Jaffna District M. A. Sumanthiran on Thursday and discussed arrangements for a possible electoral understanding. Asked about it, Mr. Sumanthiran said the President briefed him on steps for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He said he stressed the need for the President to take steps to enact the bill which he presented seeking enactment for the conduct of the elections to the Provincial Councils now remaining defunct. According to Mr. Sumanthiran, the bill is to be taken up for debate in Parliament next month ahead of the presidential poll.

“If that is enacted, let’s see!” Mr.Sumanthiran said.

However, the ITAK appears to be now divided with a section of the ITAK led by MP S.Sritharan standing for fielding a Tamil presidential candidate instead of backing anyone from the mainstream parties.

An amalgam of Tamil parties- Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), Tamil Makkal Kootani led by MP C.V. Wigneswaran and the political group formed by ex LTTE combatants- advocates a common candidate. A section of the ITAK which is the dominant political force in the north is also behind this move now.

EPRLF front-liner Suresh Premachandran told Daily Mirror that a few names had been shortlisted and one of them would be picked as a common Tamil candidate. He said the candidate, either a politician or a civil society leader, would be announced next week.

Asked about the political logic behind this decision, he said the Tamil parties in the North and the East backed presidential candidates Sarath Fonseka in 2010, Maithripala Sirisena in 2015 and Sajith Premadasa in 2019 but in the end, it was in vain.

“Now we have decided to field our candidate. Our manifesto will feature a credible power-sharing arrangement and the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces,” he said.

However, he said his alliance would request Tamil people to mark their second preferences to a candidate from the south coming up with acceptable solutions to Tamils’ issues.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by MP Rauff Hakeem and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishad Bathiudeen also weighed in on the situation to take the final decision. The SLMC is currently aligned with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). However, the party is yet to announce its formal stand.

Mr. Bathiudeen said that his party would decide next week whom to support.

Both the President and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa are in contact with the minor and minority parties at the moment. Mr. Hakeem, in response to a question about his stand, “We are in the SJB as it is now.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Premadasa held talks with MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who was speculated to be planning to cross over.