SLPP’s presidential candidate to be announced next week: Namal

Colombo, July 31 (Daily Mirror) - The final decision regarding the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will be made next week, SLPP's national organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa said.

Addressing the media today, Namal Rajapaksa stated that he stands by the party’s decision not to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite a significant portion of SLPP MPs deciding otherwise.

When asked whether disciplinary actions will be taken against those MPs who have failed to comply with the party’s decision, MP Rajapaksa said people will decide on them in the future.

He went on to say that those MPs who hail President Wickremesinghe now criticised him for supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe when the latter was elected as President by Parliament.

Responding to the decision of ninety-two Members of Parliament to pledge their support for President Wickremesinghe, MP Rajapaksa noted that it is not uncommon for MPs to decide to remain independent ahead of an election.