Category: News

MP Rishad Bathiudeen who stressed the need to safeguard the present status of the economy said his party’s stand on the Presidential election 2024 will be revealed on August 14, 2024.

“Both, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa and President Ranil Wickremesinghe have sought our support but we will decide on August 14,” the ACMC leader told the media.

“We also feel that the present status of the economy has to be safeguarded and should not be destroyed,” he added.

A group of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members led by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has signed an agreement with SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa to support him in the upcoming Presidential Election.

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa signed the relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

However, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) group led by minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on July 31 met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and expressed their support for his victory in the forthcoming presidential election.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today officially announced its National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election.

The SLPP General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam announced this moments ago at the party’s headquarters in Nelum Mawatha.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa, and several other party members also attended the event.

Namala Rajapaksa had been tipped to be named as the SLPP’s presidential candidate after SLPP MP Dhammika Perera decided to withdraw from the race citing personal reasons.

The business magnate informed the party yesterday (6) that he will not contest the 2024 Presidential Election due to personal reasons.

Hence, the party leadership had decided to name an alternate candidate.

Rajapaksa, 38, is the youngest candidate in this election and if he wins, he will emerge as the youngest President int he history of Sri Lanka.

Some heads of the military were trying to stage a coup during the Aragalaya in 2022 and wanted the political leaders to give way for the same, MP Madhura Withanage told Parliament today.

“Did these military leaders tell you to keep away during the aragalaya,” he questioned Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

“Military leaders in Sri Lanka and the defense hierarchy could not safeguard the Head of State in 2022,” he added.

MP Withanage, who critisised the then Army Commander Shawendra Silva, said the latter refused to protect the private residence of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in March 2022.

“Former President Rajapaksa called me and informed the Army Commander to tighten security in Mirihana. I told Shavendra to block roads that lead to Mirihana by parking military vehicles. However, Silva refused and told me to get our own people to attack the protesters. Shevendra told me that the military cannot interfere in political matters,” the MP said.

Also, he attacked NPP seniors and alleged that former MP Sunil Handunetti wanted Sri Lankan people to come and take over Parliament in 2022.

“Even Lal Kantha has said the protesters in 2022 have not achieved anything by removing the former President from office. This implies what they intended to do,” he said.

The Tamil Progressive Alliance said it will support Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo today, MP Mano Ganesan said the Tamil Progressive Alliance reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Samagi Jana Alliance after the politburo reached a unanimous decision to back Sajith Premadasa.

He said they are not asking for much through the MoU, and they are merely asking for the 800,000 people living in isolation in estates to be brought within the national framework of Sri Lanka, as citizens of Sri Lanka.

MP Ganesan said the only objective of the Tamil Progressive Alliance is for the estate community to be treated as Sri Lankan citizens and not Indian citizens.

He added that the Samagi Jana Alliance is the most suitable political force to achieve this goal.

He said he believes it will be a success with their close relationship with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, adding that they have not made any progress following the last two elections.

National Organiser of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa will be named as the party’s presidential candidate tomorrow morning (07) as casino kingpin Dhammika Perera has pulled out of the race, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa confirmed to Daily Mirror a short while ago.

Several SLPP MPs led by their national organizer Namal Rajapaksa are planning to sit in the opposition, political sources said.

They have also moved to boycott the government parliamentary group, after its politburo decided to field an own presidential candidate without supporting incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Furthermore, the state ministers loyal to Rajapaksa are to resign from their positions this week, said the sources.

Parliament sittings from tomorrow (06) are expected to be heated, with several crossovers too, tipped to take place.

Govt. loses majority?

Critics say the government has lost its majority in parliament following the SLPP decision to field a candidate.

Previously, it had around 117 supporters, but now it has come down to less than 100.

As a result, it will find passing an act with simple majority to be difficult.

But, Nimal Lanza of the New Alliance says they are prepared to show a majority support for the government when sittings begin.