Basil to decide whether he re-enters Parliament – Mahinda

by Norman Palihawadana

Though Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) members have unanimously called for the party’s political strategist to return to Parliament through the National List, Basil Rajapaksa has still not made up his mind whether he should take to active politics again, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“It is an entirely a matter left to Basil Rajapaksa to decide on, despite a popular demand from SLPP parliamentarians for him to return to parliament to serve the nation”, he told The Sunday Island.

According to political observers, SLPP National List member, Jayantha Ketagoda will step down to make way for Basil Rajapaksa to re-enter parliament.

Though some members of the opposition are showing intense interest in the matter, Basil Rajapaksa himself has still not decided whether he should enter parliament as an MP of the present government, the premier said.

“We are still waiting for him (Basil Rajapaksa) to decide. Perhaps, he needs more time to make up his mind whether to accept the offer or not”, he further said.

Polling the highest number of preferential votes from the Gampaha district in the 2010 parliamentary election, Basil Rajapaksa served as the Minister of Economic Development during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term (2010–2015).

Under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution adopted during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe regime, Basil Rajapaksa was debarred from contesting the August 2020 parliamentary polls as he is a dual citizen. However, with the passage of the 20th Amendment, he is now qualified to serve as an MP.

On the forthcoming budget, the Prime Minister said the government will offer relief to the masses to cushion the cost of living burden.

Asked about plans for his 74th birthday on November 18, Rajapaksa said the focus will be largely on religious observances, apart from focusing on development initiatives.

“We will be launching many more development projects on this day, including projects to provide pipe-borne drinking water to many areas of Gampaha district, a long-felt need, which had remained neglected over the years”, he added.