MS to take final decision on MR today

2 July 2015 07:46 pm

President Maithripala Sirisena had reportedly told a UPFA party leaders meeting yesterday that he was not in favour of making former president Mahinda Rajapaksa the prime ministerial candidate or the group leader of the UPFA at the forthcoming general elections. However he had informed the UPFA party leaders that he would inform them whether former president Rajapaksa would be given nomination from the UPFA by 10.00 am today.

At the meeting, party leaders such as Dinesh Gunawardane, Vasudeva Nanayakkara,and Prof. Tissa Vitharana had insisted that Mr. Rajapaksa be nominated.

However, there were others who were opposed to it. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) seniors had expressed views for and against it. But the president remained non-committal, it is learnt.

Instead, the president had said he could not give a ruling on the matter at that time. He had said he would make an announcement by 10.00 am today after consulting his party. There seems to be a division within the group of SLFP MPs who took ministerial posts in the government of President Sirisena.

Meanwhile, speaking to Daily Mirror, Democratic Left Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the UPFA Party Leaders’ meeting had been fruitless and frustrating.

He said the UPFA leaders had intended to work out nomination lists comprising members from both factions but there was no agreement.

Now, he said, the UPFA factions supportive of Mr. Rajapaksa would look to the next option -- to contest under a different symbol.

A group of SLFP leaders, including former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, had exerted pressure on the president to resist any move to accommodate Mr. Rajapaksa on board to contest the general elections or to spearhead the election campaign.

Yet, another faction comprising a sizeable chunk of the SLFP, is pressing for his nomination. The situation has placed the president in a precarious situation, being unable to take up a final position and make a formal announcement. Besides, a six member committee appointed by the SLFP Central Committee had recommended the nomination of Mr. Rajapaksa as a candidate. It is reliably learnt that three foreign missions, including one of a neighbouring country had pressured the president not to accommodate Mr. Rajapaksa.

The pro-Rajapaksa faction is hoping to receive the final decision of the president at least by today so that it can opt for the next alternative to contest the election. For that purpose, a political formation has been worked out under a different symbol.

Besides, some parties and groups that backed President Maithripala Sirisena at the January 8 Presidential Election have asked the president to declare his stance clearly by today, so that they too could work out alternate strategies to contest the election. For that purpose, these parties and groups are considering the swan symbol of the National Democratic Front.(Kelum Bandara)