SJB asks Mahinda why he protects Ranil if SLPP plans to go it alone at next election

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (27) said that ruling SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa owed an explanation why his party continued to protect President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The SLPP conveniently ignored an opportunity to force an early parliamentary election by defeating President Wickrtemesinghe’s Budget for 2024.

The former Colombo District parliamentarian said so in response to lawmaker Mahinda Rajapaksa’s declaration at a public event at Kirindiwela, Gampaha, that his intention was to regain power at the next national election.

Pointing out that both the ex-President and all Cabinet ministers, including Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, elected on the SLPP ticket, and those appointed on its National List, voted for UNP leader Wickremesinghe’s Budget, Rahuman emphasised the SLPP was the engine of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.

The final vote on the 2024 Budget received 122 votes in favour and was passed by a majority of 41 votes.

The SJB’s Mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council said that except for two, namely Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando of the SJB, the rest of the ministers were all SLPPers.

Rahuman said: “The former President cannot deceive the public by such meaningless utterances.” The ex-MP reminded that some of those in the Cabinet already had publicly declared their support for President Wickremesinghe at the next presidential poll.

Addressing a gathering at a trade exhibition and carnival at Kirindiwella, organised by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry, MP Rajapaksa said on Tuesday (26) his intention was to gain power and not to serve as the Opposition Leader.

Responding to media queries as he left the venue, MP Rajapaksa ruled out the possibility of changing electoral organizers. However, new appointments have been made in place of those who left the party, the ex-President said.

After having endorsed Wickremesinghe revenue proposals that would cause steep increase in taxes, with effect from next week, the former President ironically called for a reasonable tax regime, Rahuman said.

Obviously, the SLPP leader has quite conveniently forgotten the Supreme Court ruling in respect of the fundamental rights applications delivered on Nov 14.

Regardless of various public declarations, the SLPP seemed comfortable in retaining the UNP leader as the President, ex-MP Rahuman said. Responding to another query, Rahuman alleged that President Wickremesinghe put off Local Government polls indefinitely with the blessings of the SLPP. The Premier played a significant role in Wickremesinghe strategy, the former parliamentarian said, urging the public to be wary of the incumbent government’s machinations.

According to Rahuman, the SLPP’s decision to appoint Wickremesinghe as the eighth President to complete the re remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term was a strategic move meant to build an alliance.