Sri Lanka opposition MP says agreed with rival on post-presidential vote economy
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka opposition law maker and economic expert Harsha de Silva on Monday said the fraction of former ruling party which now backs Dullas Alahapperuma at the Wednesday’s parliament vote for new president has agreed on a minimum economic program if his party forms the next government.
The meeting comes amid speculations that de Silva’s party leader Sajith Premadasa would withdraw his candidacy from the presidential vote and agree with Alahapperuma’s emerging coalition mainly from the former ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to settle with Prime Minister post.
“Glad to note Dulllas Alahapperuma’s team lead by Prof G L Pieris along with Charitha Herath and Nalaka Godahewa and others came to complete agreement with the common minimum economic program if we form the next Sri Lanka government,” de Silva tweeted.
Glad to note @DullasOfficial team lead by Prof GLP along w @charith9 @GodahewaNalaka and others came to complete agreement with the common minimum economic program if we form the next #SriLanka government. This is based on multiparty proposals compiled by @samarajiva #NMSJ.
— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) July 18, 2022
The move also comes when Sri Lanka has started negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and debt restructuring with the help of international legal and financial advisors. Policy consistency is crucial for IMF deals and the common minimum program would be decide according to that need, political sources said.
Premadasa’s party sources told Economy Next that the 20198 presidential candidate and the country’s opposition leader, is considering to withdraw his decision to contest in presidential vote in the parliament on July 20 to ensure the current Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe is defeated without vote split in the parliament.
Sri Lanka’s new president will be decided by the legislators of 225-member parliament on Wednesday in line with the constitution after the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country last week in an air force flight and later announced his resignation following months-long protest that plunged the country into a political crisis.
After Rajapaksa resigned, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the acting president until the new president is chosen.
Premadasa, Alahapperuma, and Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake have agreed to contest in the presidential vote, while Wickremesinghe’s name is expected to be nominated by former ruling SLPP members.
If both Premadasa and Alahapperuma contest, political analysts say Wickremesinghe has a better chance to win.
Wickremesinghe’s party was defeated in the last parliament polls and he could not win through the public vote. However, he entered the parliament using a bonus seat won by the party. This has raised questions on if he has the people mandate to become a president. Legal experts say the constitution does not bar Wickremesinghe if he is elected by the simple majority in the parliament. (Colombo/July 18)
