… ruling party warns those planning to switch allegiance to Prez

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, MP, on Tuesday (02) evening indicated that relations between the ruling party and President Ranil Wickremesinghe had deteriorated to such an extent the party would consider backing his candidature at the forthcoming Presidential Poll only if he quit the UNP and obtained SLPP membership.

Kariyawasam said so when the media repeatedly asked him about the SLPP’s stand at the presidential election after the conclusion of talks between the SLPP and the MEP delegation, led by Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, at the SLPP Nelum Mawatha Office in Battaramulla.

The SLPP said that Basil Rajapaksa chaired the discussion.

When The Island sought the UNP’s reaction to SLPP General Secretary’s declaration, UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, MP, said that they would wait for former President and Chairman of the SLPP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s word on the matter.

Abeywardena said he did not want to respond to MP Kariyawasam without fully knowing the circumstances under which the latter had made the statement in question.

Kariyawasam warned the members of the SLPP parliamentary group that those who voted for the party at the 2019 Presidential and 2020 General Elections wouldn’t follow them if they switched their allegiance to President Wickremesinghe.

MP Kariyawasam said dissident SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma was in political wilderness following his decision to go against the party’s decision. He was referring to the SLPP’s decision to elect UNP National List MP Wickremesinghe as the President to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term.

The SLPP General

Secretary downplayed the importance of scores of SLPP parliamentarians, including Ministers, recently appearing on the political stage with President Wickremesinghe at the Matara Sanath Jayasuriya cricket stadium. In case, they switched their allegiance to President Wickremesinghe, they, too, would have to face grave consequences,the MP warned.

Kariyawasam said that the SLPP was not in an undue hurry to name its candidate. Responding to a spate of questions pertaining to what the media called inordinate delay in naming their candidate, MP Kariyawasam emphasized that a candidate would be fielded unless President Wickremesinghe accepted their conditions.

MP Kariyawasam said that he wouldn’t comment on various unsubstantiated but controversial statements made by former Ambassador to Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga. The top SLPP official said that Weeratunga’s statements shouldn’t be taken seriously as he didn’t represent the party at any level.

Premier Gunawardena side-stepped questions pertaining to the continuing crisis within the SLPP over its stand on the presidential election. Premier Gunawardena denied internal strife, claiming that they discussed all matters of importance and issues that affected the public.

Premier Gunawardena said that the MEP’s relationship with the SLPP remained strong. The MEP parliamentary group consists of three MPs.