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Prez poll 2024: Sharply divided SLFP pulling in different directions

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/7

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Jaffna District SLFP parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan yesterday (06) said that he would decide whom to support at the forthcoming presidential election depending on the response of independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa to his proposals.

Lawmaker Ramanathan said so when The Island asked him what he would do as the solitary SLFPer elected under the hand symbol at the last general election held in August 2020.

Acknowledging that the 13 SLFPers who had been elected and appointed on the SLPP National List were divided over the party’s stance at the presidential poll, MP Ramanathan said that he recently handed over a set of proposals, based on aspirations of those living in the Jaffna electorate, to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MP Ramanathan said: “President Wickremesinghe, during his visit to Jaffna late last week visited my political office there. People’s proposals were handed over to him. The President responded positively. I’ll be handing over the same set of proposals to SJB leader today.”

Responding to another question, MP Ramanathan said that he wouldn’t discuss their proposals with other Jaffna-based political parties. “I have no intention to do so,” the Deputy Chairperson of Committees said.

Having unsuccessfully contested Jaffna on the UPFA ticket at the 2010 and 2015 general elections, Ramanathan first entered Parliament in 2015 on the UPFA National List. Ramanathan switched his allegiance to Maithripala Sirisena’s SLFP at the 2020 general election.

Meanwhile, a section of the SLFP led by General Secretary of the Party Dayasiri Jayasekera following lengthy deliberations has decided to back SJB leader Sajith Premadasa’s candidature at the presidential election.

The SLFP and SJB will finalize their agreement at the Waters Edge today (07). General Secretary of the UPFA Thilanga Sumathipala, too, has pledged his support to this endeavour.

Lawmaker Jayasekera told The Island that it would be a grave blunder on the part of those who enjoy ministerial perks to believe the voters would follow them.

Acknowledging that of the 14-member parliamentary group, the majority backed President Wickremesinghe’s candidature, the former Yahapalana Minister said those who voted for them wouldn’t be swayed and the party was confident of their continuous support.

MP Jayasekera pointed out that the SLPP secured a staggering 145 seats at the last general election, with the backing of the SLFP. Unfortunately, that party quite conveniently had forgottten the SLFP’s contribution and acted in such a brazen manner much to the disappointment of those who expected a genuine change.

“We are at crossroads,” MP Jayasekera said, urging the electorate to be mindful of President Wickremesinghe’s machinations. Whatever Wickremesinghe’s ministers say, voters should be aware of the danger in case the UNP leader won the election with the backing of an utterly corrupt section of the ruling party.

One-time SLFP Chairman and ex-General Secretary as well as current Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman said that the party followed, what he called, a proper consultation process before reaching consensus on Premadasa’s candidature.

Prof. Lakshman said that he didn’t want to support Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe though the former leader Sirisena did so. “We had no option but to take a decision in the wake of the Election Commission declaring the date of the presidential election,” Prof. Lakshman said.

Asked whether the party considered fielding its own candidate after legal challenge against their original choice the then Justice Minister Rajapakshe, Prof. Lakshman said that they felt such a move as unrealistic due to post-Aragalaya realignment of political parties.

Both MP Jayasekera and Prof. Lakshman said that President Wickremesinghe, backed by the SLPP, posed a massive threat to the democratic system. Their project should be thwarted at any cost, they declared, urging the voters to rally around the SJB candidate.

Prof. Lakshman said that those who betrayed the party for ministerial portfolios and other perks and privileges squandered a golden opportunity to present a united face to the electorate. The bottom line is they treacherously held onto positions at the expense of the party, thereby undermined the very principles of the party, Prof. Lakshman said.

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Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka pays courtesy call on PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Location of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal Sea area

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026

Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.

The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.

The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

News

Canada concerned about delay in holding PC polls

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin shaking hands with Minister Abayaratne

Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.

Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.

India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.

Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.

During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.

In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.

The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.

In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.

The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.

by Shamindra Ferdinando