News

Presidential poll: Chief Govt. Whip steps up pressure on SLPP on behalf of Ranil

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/22

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, MP, on Wednesday (20) said that members of the government parliamentary group could freely contribute to the continuing discussion on whether the party should throw its weight behind President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the forthcoming presidential poll though they were yet to take a final decision.

Kariyawasam said so when The Island inquired about the inordinate delay in an official announcement in the wake of Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga declaring his support for incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidature whereas Leader of the House Susil Premjayanth, too, aligned himself with MP Nimal Lanza’s New Alliance backing the UNP leader.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera is another vocal supporter of President Wickremesinghe. Attorney-at-Law Kariyawasam emphasised that the SLPP would make the announcement in the near future. When The Island pointed out the SLPP was running out of time as the Election Commission would make an official announcement in respect of the presidential poll in mid-July, National List MP emphasized the declaration would be made at the right time.

“Even if we reached a consensus on their candidate, an announcement wouldn’t be made in a hurry,” MP Kariyawasam said. The first-time entrant to parliament discussed the issues at hand against the backdrop of SLPP Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa and its founder Basil Rajapaksa meeting President Ranil Wickremesinghe to iron out differences between the two parties.

MP Kariyawasam said that the SLPP officially announced Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s candidature on Aug 11, 2019, just three months ahead of the polls day.

The SLPP spokesman pointed out the JVP/NPP and SJB presidential polls campaigns had run out of steam. The SJB declared its leader Sajith Premadasa’s candidature on May 16, 2023, soon after the JVP/NPP named their leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the contestant.

The party wouldn’t bar members from commenting on the issue at hand but expected all to go along with the decision taken by the party.

In spite of electing Wickremesinghe as the President in July 2022, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, the SLPP couldn’t secure new cabinet appointments for its members, MP Kariyawasam said.

Earlier in the day, the media asked Chief Government Whip who is also urban development and housing minister Ranatunga whether he backed Wickremesinghe’s candidature or the SLPP.

The Gampaha District MP said that the issue of him taking sides didn’t arise as President Wickremesinghe, too, was with the SLPP. The media confronted Ranatunga as he was leaving a meeting of the SLPP parliamentary group held at Nelum Mawatha office, Battaramulla also attended by SLPP General Secretary Kariyawasam.

Asked whether the SLPP would field Wickremesinghe at the next presidential poll, Minister Ranatunga said that the party would decide in due course.

As the media pressed the Minister on his stand on Wickremesinghe and also that of the party, he asked the media to pose their questions to Basil Rajapaksa who was at the Nelum Mawatha office at that time.

Later in the day, addressing a gathering at Naiwala, Gampaha Minister Ranatunga reiterated that Wickremesinghe, who accepted the daunting task of leading the country during the ongoing crisis, was the best candidate the SLPP could field. Minister Ranatunga said that it was the SLPP’s responsibility to back Wickremesinghe as the people, too, wanted him as he proved his capacity to effect a system change in the country.

Minister Ranatunga emphasised that the SLPP should accept responsibility for their failure to properly govern the country in spite of polling 6.9 mn votes and 6.6 mn votes at the 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary polls. Therefore, Wickremesinghe, who stepped-in at a very difficult time should be given an opportunity to contest the presidential poll.

The Gampaha District strongman has declared that Wickremesinghe was the best though there were other names mentioned as possible candidates. The lawmaker stressed that as the country faced an immense economic crisis, Wickremesinghe, who had already proved his expertise in this field, was the most qualified to lead the country.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Death toll in violent clashes at Negombo Prison rise to 25

Published

12 hours ago

2026/07/6

Priyan

It has been reported quoting police sources that the death toll from the renewed unrest at the Negombo Prison which this morning, has risen from nineteen to twenty five (25).

A clash initially broke out between two groups of inmates (a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates serving sentences) at the Negombo Prison at around 1.00 p.m. on Sunday (05).

Two inmates died in yesterday’s clash, while around 40 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at hospital.

News

The Government is committed to equipping children with new technology and knowledge – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/07/6

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the children of Sri Lanka are well capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical ways of thinking, and that the Government is committed to equipping them with the required knowledge and modern technologies necessary to realize their full potential.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the opening of the ’Arumasiya’ Exhibition and the occasion of laying the foundation stone for a new three-storey building at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, on the 4th of July.

During the visit, the Prime Minister officially declared open the exhibition showcasing the students’ innovations and creative talents and commended them for their remarkable achievements. The Prime Minister also participated in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of the College’s new three-storey building.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“It is a pleasure to participate in this special event at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, the school where Sri Lanka’s first female Prime Minister received her education

I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition featuring the outstanding creations and innovations of the students. What I witnessed was a group of talented young people who have moved beyond textbook learning and are capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical thinking.

We are introducing a new education reform process that moves away from a rote-learning, examination-oriented system towards a practical and skills-based one. The Government is now systematically completing all the necessary preparations to implement the new education reforms scheduled to commence in 2027.

Our objective is to ensure that every child leaving school has access to vocational and technical education that matches their individual talents and meets the demands of the modern labour market. We are committed to transforming vocational education into a field that enjoys the same dignity and recognition as university education.

Finally, I commend the Principal and the academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College for organizing this exhibition, and to the students and parents whose dedication made this event a success.”

The event was attended by Members of Parliament for Ratnapura District Wasantha Pushpa Kumara and Sunil Rajapaksha, the Mayor of Balangoda and members of the Municipal Council, the Zonal Director of Education, the Principal and academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, parents, and students.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

News

Appointment of SPO to probe AG on hold until establishment of Ind. Public Prosecutor’s Office

Published

19 hours ago

2026/07/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ajith / Harshana

The appointment of a Special Parliamentary Ombudsman (SPO) to inquire into the complaints against the Attorney General, as promised in the NPP manifesto, is on hold, pending the establishment of an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.

Authoritative sources told The Island that the Justice and National Integration Ministry was awaiting the recommendations, regarding the new legislation for the establishment of such an Office, from a Committee of Technical Experts, chaired by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.

Responding to a query raised in Parliament by SJB lawmaker Ajith P. Perera about the delay in appointment of SPO, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government couldn’t take a decision until the Kodagoda Committee made recommendations.

Nanayakkara said that the positioning of the SPO couldn’t be decided before they differentiate the powers of the Attorney General and the an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.

According to the NPP manifesto, provincial Sub Officers were to be established under a senior Additional Solicitor General.

Opposition sources pointed out that the relevant Cabinet decision was taken on 7 May 2025. According to the Cabinet Office, the government decided to establish an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers in line with a proposal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her final report on Sri Lanka, submitted in September, 2024.

By Shamindra Ferdinando