By Ninety-two SLPP Members of Parliament met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, pledging their support for him in the upcoming presidential election.
It was only a day ago that the SLPP, with Basil and Mahinda Rajapaksha, decided to launch its own candidate and pull away from supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Now the Rajapakshas have been pushed into a difficult position as a large number of parliamentarians from their camp have pledged their support for Ranil Wickremesinghe, disregarding the decision of the party.
Political commentators believe that many more will jump ship from the SLPP, which is ranked very low in many opinion polls and surveys.
Reform and Stability
Taking to ‘X,’ Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara stated that he would be supporting the President, adding that the majority of the SLPP parliamentary group will also extend their support to the President to “continue the reforms and policies towards greater economic stability and the betterment of the country.”
State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon also said on X that he will support President Wickremesinghe “immaterial of the decision made by the political bureau of the SLPP.”
Political commentators point out that SLPP parliamentarians, aware that it is difficult to make a comeback to parliament given the public opinion directed towards them, see the presidential election campaign of Ranil Wickremesinghe as an opportunity for a positive engagement with the voters.
