News

SJB declares Sajith’s candidature; SLPP dissidents to field Dullas

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

AKD, SF and Patali mentioned for the post of PM

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A section of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has proposed MP Dullas Alahapperuma as the President and Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, as the Premier.

However, Premadasa, who is also the incumbent leader of the Opposition, has rejected the offer. Instead, he has asked for the Presidency.

Amidst ongoing negotiations among political parties represented in Parliament and other stakeholders, the SJB has announced its leader Premadasa as Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s successor.

The SJB said that a unanimous decision has been made in this regard at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Monday (11). SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara has recommended Premadasa whereas Chairman of the party, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, too, endorsed it.

Political sources said that the SJB has made its decision in the wake of a party leaders’ meeting held at the parliamentary complex on Monday to reach consensus on the election of next President. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has chaired the meeting. Referring to the relevant constitutional provisions, the Speaker’s Office said that the election would be held on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Speaker’s Office quoted the Chief Government Whip as having assured the party leaders that the Cabinet of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, were ready to quit immediately to facilitate the formation of an all-party government.

The current Parliament is represented by 15 political parties. They are SLPP (145 members), SJB (54), ITAK (10), JJB (03), AITC (02), EPDP (02), UNP, SLFP, OPPP (Our Power of People Party), TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal), MNA (Muslim National Alliance), TMTK (Tamil Makkal Theshiya Kutani), ACMC (All Ceylon Makkal Congress), NC (National Congress) and SLMC (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) represented by one MP each.

Sources said that they were still hopeful of reaching agreement with the SJB leader regarding the presidency and the premiership. They said that members were of the view that the presidency, the premiership and the Cabinet of Ministers should be named through consensus.

Speaker Abeywardena would function as the Acting President for a week (July 13 to July 20). However, that would depend on Premier Wickremesinghe, too, resigning simultaneously with President Rajapaksa, sources said. In case the PM didn’t resign, he would be sworn in as the President pending the election of the President, sources said.

Responding to queries, sources said that if consensus couldn’t be reached over the next few days, the possibility of a three-way contest for the presidency couldn’t be ruled out. That would divide the SLPP with dissident faction which called itself the reformist group backing lawmaker Alahapperuma and the rest largely backing UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in case he contested, sources said.

The other candidate would be SJB Chief Premadasa, sources said, adding that the group backing MP Alahapperuma had suggested JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka as prime ministerial candidates. Sources said if consensus could be reached on the JVP leader, the war winning Army Commander could serve as the Minister of Defence and Patali Champika Ranawaka as Power and Energy Minister.

Party leaders have repeatedly stressed that both President Rajapaksa and Premier Wickremesinghe should resign. Sources said that it would be of pivotal importance to reach consensus with the groups that had been engaged in high profile campaigns against the government.

Sources said that the arrangement under discussion would be for a period of one year. The group that has backed the proposed interim solution included several Viyathmaga activists, sources said, adding that attempts were made to iron out differences among the SLPP parliamentary group.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya extended

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

The landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation have been extended till 0600 hrs on 15th February 2026.

Accordingly,
The Level II [AMBER] warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwar Eliya district and the
Level I [YELLOW] warning issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara in the Kandy district have been extended.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 11.30 a.m. 14 February 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 14 February 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 1.00 p.m. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.

The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

Latest News

Teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions – PM

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the forthcoming two teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions pertaining to the ongoing legal proceedings and further noted that, taking into consideration the requests received, steps have been taken to make a request to Court’s approval to revise the conditions of the effective date of degree completion.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a meeting held at Monaragala Royal College to brief education authorities of the Monaragala District on the new education reforms.

Under the new education reforms, Smart Boards will be provided to 132 schools in the Monaragala District as part of the program to equip secondary schools with modern technology. As a symbolic step under this initiative, Smart Boards were presented to 10 secondary schools under the Prime Minister’s patronage. This program is being implemented with the intervention of the Digital Task Force operating under the Prime Minister’s Office. It was also emphasized that a new digital policy, formulated with special attention to child protection, will be introduced in April.

As part of her visit to the Monaragala District on the 13 th of February, the Prime Minister observed the implementation of the new learning methodologies introduced for Grade One under the new education reforms. She visited Kumbukkana Sri Shanmugam Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya in Monaragala to observe the educational activities of Grade One students.

Considering the increase of student numbers and the development of infrastructure facilities, the Prime Minister also approved a proposal submitted by the School Development Society to rename Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya as Monaragala Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya.

Teachers briefed the Prime Minister that the new education system, supported by revised workbooks and activity-based learning methods, has proven to be effective, with students participating enthusiastically.

Addressing education officials further at the meeting held at Monaragala Royal College, the Prime Minister stated:

“Although this will not provide a complete solution to the existing teacher vacancies, these examinations can offer considerable relief. According to the Court’s previous determination, the effective date of degree completion had been set as 30.06.2025. However, considering numerous requests and following the cabinet approval we have sought Court’s consent to revise this date. We will act in accordance with the decision granted.

Funds allocated for school infrastructure must be utilized transparently and in line with proper planning, and progress must be reported accordingly. We cannot move forward by dividing ourselves along national, provincial, rural, or urban lines. As education authorities, you must make swift and accurate decisions based on correct data.

Further, discussions are already underway within the Piriven Committee of the Ministry of Education to develop Piriven education and to address the issues faced by Piriven teachers.”

The event was attended by the members of the Maha Sangha, Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ajith Agalakada, Uva Provincial Education Secretary Nihal Gunarathne, and several officials from the education sector.