Call for Ranil to enter Parliament

By Yohan Perera   

Former MP Premnath Dolawatte revealed yesterday that he had  proposed the entry of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe into  Parliament, stating it would significantly strengthen the opposition.   

“I suggested that Mr. Wickremesinghe should enter  Parliament either through the New Democratic Front (NDF) National List  or the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List during a recent  discussion among opposition parties,” Dolawatte told the Daily Mirror.   

“I proposed that one of the two National List MPs of the  NDF should resign to make way for Mr. Wickremesinghe. Alternatively, I  suggested that the SJB accommodate him through its National List. A  united front between the United National Party (UNP) and the SJB could  be formed if the SJB facilitates his entry. Moreover, the opposition  would be much stronger with Mr. Wickremesinghe joining other opposition  leaders such as Namal Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa. No one opposed my  proposal during the discussion,” he added.   

Commenting on reports that legal action would be taken  against those who gathered near the Fort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday,  August 26, when a case involving Mr. Wickremesinghe was taken up,  Dolawatte dismissed the claims. “There is no legal provision for such  action unless the crowds disrupted court proceedings,” he said.   

When contacted regarding Mr. Wickremesinghe’s possible  return to active politics, UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala  stated that it is premature to make any decisions at this stage.   

“Mr. Wickremesinghe must first recover and be discharged from hospital before considering his next steps,” she said. 

She also emphasised that any decisions related to his  health and well-being will be made by his family. “We have left it to  Mr. Wickremesinghe’s family to decide on the necessary precautions  concerning his health,” Athukorala added.