Presidential Election 2024

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A group of SLPP MPs calling themselves New Alliance will soon launch a campaign in support of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidature at the forthcoming presidential election.

The New Alliance announced that their inaugural meeting would be held at Ja-ela on Saturday (27) from 3pm.

The group said that the rally would be held under the patronage of their Gampaha District leader and Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Nalin Fernando. Among those who had been scheduled to attend the meeting were Education Minister and Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha and dissident MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Priyankara Jayaratne and Nimal Lanza, representing Kurunegala, Puttalam and Gampaha districts, respectively.

The scheduled public meeting is the first since the New Alliance estab lished a new campaign office on January 1 this year at No 118, Lake Drive, Rajagiriya.

At the opening of the new office, MP Lanza declared that they were confident of securing the support of many of those MPs who had distanced themselves from the SLPP and other political parties after having entered parliament on their tickets. Lawmaker Lanza said that there were 71 such dissidents in parliament now.

Political sources said that among those who had declared their support for the incumbent president while representing the SLPP in the cabinet were Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga who is also the Chief Government Whip.

Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella last week told The Island that none of their lawmakers would switch allegiance to President Wickremesinghe in spite of UNP’s efforts to lure them. Of the 54 member SJB group, so far five-Diana Gamage, Harin Fernando, Manusha Nanayakkara, Vadiwel Suresh and A.H.M. Fowzie had voted with the government.Sources said that the New Alliance seemed bent on working out an arrangement with President Wickremesinghe at the next parliamentary poll.