SJB declares Sajith’s candidature; SLPP dissidents to field Dullas

AKD, SF and Patali mentioned for the post of PM

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A section of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has proposed MP Dullas Alahapperuma as the President and Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, as the Premier.

 However, Premadasa, who is also the incumbent leader of the Opposition, has rejected the offer. Instead, he has asked for the Presidency.

 Amidst ongoing negotiations among political parties represented in Parliament and other stakeholders, the SJB has announced its leader Premadasa as Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s successor.

 The SJB said that a unanimous decision has been made in this regard at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Monday (11). SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara has recommended Premadasa whereas Chairman of the party, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, too, endorsed it.

 Political sources said that the SJB has made its decision in the wake of a party leaders’ meeting held at the parliamentary complex on Monday to reach consensus on the election of next President. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has chaired the meeting. Referring to the relevant constitutional provisions, the Speaker’s Office said that the election would be held on Wednesday.

 A statement issued by the Speaker’s Office quoted the Chief Government Whip as having assured the party leaders that the Cabinet of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, were ready to quit immediately to facilitate the formation of an all-party government.

 The current Parliament is represented by 15 political parties. They are SLPP (145 members), SJB (54), ITAK (10), JJB (03), AITC (02), EPDP (02), UNP, SLFP, OPPP (Our Power of People Party), TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal), MNA (Muslim National Alliance), TMTK (Tamil Makkal Theshiya Kutani), ACMC (All Ceylon Makkal Congress), NC (National Congress) and SLMC (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) represented by one MP each.

 Sources said that they were still hopeful of reaching agreement with the SJB leader regarding the presidency and the premiership. They said that members were of the view that the presidency, the premiership and the Cabinet of Ministers should be named through consensus.

 Speaker Abeywardena would function as the Acting President for a week (July 13 to July 20). However, that would depend on Premier Wickremesinghe, too, resigning simultaneously with President Rajapaksa, sources said. In case the PM didn’t resign, he would be sworn in as the President pending the election of the President, sources said.

 Responding to queries, sources said that if consensus couldn’t be reached over the next few days, the possibility of a three-way contest for the presidency couldn’t be ruled out. That would divide the SLPP with dissident faction which called itself the reformist group backing lawmaker Alahapperuma and the rest largely backing UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in case he contested, sources said.

 The other candidate would be SJB Chief Premadasa, sources said, adding that the group backing MP Alahapperuma had suggested JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka as prime ministerial candidates. Sources said if consensus could be reached on the JVP leader, the war winning Army Commander could serve as the Minister of Defence and Patali Champika Ranawaka as Power and Energy Minister.

Party leaders have repeatedly stressed that both President Rajapaksa and Premier Wickremesinghe should resign. Sources said that it would be of pivotal importance to reach consensus with the groups that had been engaged in high profile campaigns against the government.

Sources said that the arrangement under discussion would be for a period of one year. The group that has backed the proposed interim solution included several Viyathmaga activists, sources said, adding that attempts were made to iron out differences among the SLPP parliamentary group.