Category: News

The crisis within the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has intensified as General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam faces scrutiny, from party members who have decided to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara, following the SLPP Matara District Committee meeting, informed the media that a proposal to remove MP Sagara Kariyawasam from his position as SLPP General Secretary and appoint Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana in his place was passed unanimously.

Another unanimously passed proposal requested the SLPP leadership to reconsider the party’s official decision to field a separate candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election. The committee also decided to support incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election, a proposal that was unanimously approved by the members present.

The meeting was attended by electoral organisers, former Provincial Council members, former local government members and members of groups affiliated with the SLPP.

Wijesekara, who presided over the meeting, addressed concerns regarding the previous decision about the presidential candidacy made by a “small faction” within the party. He asserted that these decisions did not reflect the broader views of the entire party but, rather those of a small group, including Sagara Kariyawasam.

Wijesekara expressed doubts that the proposal promoted by Sagara Kariyawasam was influenced by Udayanga Weeratunga’s agenda. He criticised the deviation from the decisions initially set by party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, arguing that the efforts of a few individuals should not override the collective stance of the party.

Wijesekara further indicated that the issues raised in the Matara District Committee meeting would be addressed nationwide in the coming days. He emphasised that neither the party’s decisions nor potential disciplinary measures or membership revocations would deter him and others who support President Wickremesinghe from their commitment to advancing the country.

The Minister also criticised Sagara Kariyawasam for his public statements and actions, suggesting that the latter’s efforts might be aimed at undermining the party’s unity and goals. Wijesekara questioned whose interests Sagara Kariyawasam was serving.

He recalled that when they left the SLFP to join the SLPP, the SLFP also threatened to take disciplinary actions against them. “But, nothing happened to stop us from joining the SLPP,” he said.

IndiGo has announced Jaffna, Sri Lanka, as the newest addition in its international route network. It will start non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna, starting September 1.

Jaffna will be the second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo for IndiGo, making it the 34th international and 122nd overall destination in its extensive 6E network, says a release.

Bookings for the flight are open from August, 1, 2024.

India has consistently held the position of the top primary market for international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. In June 2024, Indian arrivals accounted for 25.2 oer cent of the total, with over 28,631 travellers, compared to a 26.7 per cent share in June 2023, with around 26,830 passengers.

There is also an increasing interest for travel to Jaffna. In this context, IndiGo’s latest route announcement to Jaffna will enhance accessibility across the region. Jaffna will complement IndiGo’s existing flights to Colombo, offering travellers a secondary market access point in Sri Lanka, the release said.

116 former Provincial Council members from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) have pledged their commitment to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s victory in the upcoming presidential election.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced his candidacy as an independent in the upcoming presidential election, emphasizing his commitment to advancing the country with a fresh vision and unbiased program during a meeting at the Waters Edge hotel with former Provincial Council representatives from the SLPP and UNP.

President revealed plans to delegate responsibilities to all 10 governing bodies, including the 9 provincial governments and the central government, to carry out his initiatives.

The President further emphasized the importance of safeguarding and advancing the country’s growing economy. He asserted that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must remain intact, highlighting that it is everyone’s responsibility to continue working toward economic progress, even during elections.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, State Ministers Shehan Semasinghe, Janaka akkumbura and D.B. Herath, MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, along with former Chief Ministers also attended.

A ‘Jana Aragala’ alliance government will revisit the debt restructuring programme with the International Monetary Fund in consultation with the creditors, says its presidential candidate Nuwan Bopage.

He was speaking at the launch of the policy manifesto of the alliance yesterday (31).

The manifesto promises an audit into debt and to recover the defrauded and wasted credit from those responsible.

Also, the privatisation of state entities will be halted.

It promises a low-cost fuel quota for public transport and an energy quota for farmers, fishermen and other small producers, a pay hike for all sectors from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 57,500 and free electricity for households using less than 30 units per month.

Also included are autonomy beyond the 13th amendment, abolition of the executive presidency, a more populist legal system, formation of people’s courts and abolition of the death penalty.

Former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has placed a deposit with the Election Commission as a candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election.

Rajapakshe has placed the deposit as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Front.

On July 25, the MP had officially announced that he would contest the upcoming Presidential Election while he had stepped down from his ministerial position as the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms on July 29.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, as the leader of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), still continues with his political efforts to unite Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in view of the Presidential Elections, a source familiar with the two leaders said yesterday.

The Prime Minister who is close to both the President as his schoolmate and SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa made efforts to unite all the parties aligned with the government to form a common platform in support of the President at the elections, but it failed because SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa and National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa were adamant that a separate candidate should be fielded under the party’s Lotus symbol. In a split decision, the SLPP Central Committee decided to nominate a candidate of its choice instead of backing the President.

According to the source, the Prime Minister coordinated meetings between the President and Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa to explore the possibility of an electoral alliance.

The source said the Prime Minister still keeps trying his best to unite them.

Meanwhile, the MEP has convened a meeting of its Central Committee today at its headquarters in Maharagama to take a formal stand on the Presidential Election. The MEP is likely to decide in favour of the President. The Prime Minister is also expected to play a key role in the President’s election campaign.

The MEP is a long-standing ally of the SLPP. Mr. Gunawardena even led the Joint Opposition during the time of the Yahalapana government as the forerunner to the formation of SLPP ahead of the local authorities’ election in 2018.

The other SLPP allies such as the National Congress and Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulihal (TMVP) have already pledged support to the President.

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and expressed their unwavering support for his victory in the forthcoming presidential election, according to the President’s Media Division.

The SLFP’s Politburo and Central Committee had convened a meeting this evening (31) and a final decision was reached support President Wickremesinghe at the upcoming election.

MP Duminda Dissanayake further stated that, “Only the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made a request in writing asking for our support.”

Meanwhile, 92 Members of Parliament including Ministers and State Ministers recently met with Wickremesinghe and pledged their support for the President in the upcoming presidential election to ensure his victory.

Despite the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politburo deciding to field their own candidate in the upcoming Presidential election, a group of SLPP MPs and Ministers have expressed their support for President Wickremesinghe.