No presidential candidate has secured a 50% vote base as of date

19 April 2024 05:58 am - 74 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, April 19 (Daily Mirror) - With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held in the first week of October, political parties have begun vigorous campaigns in electorates as well as closed door discussions with parliamentarians in a bid to secure a basic 50 percent vote base which will win them the presidency.

As reported earlier, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will present himself as a national candidate who will contest from a brand new symbol and has invited all political parties to support him.

Political sources close to Wickremesinghe said that the President is unlikely to secure a win if he contests under the elephant symbol and has invited parliamentarians even from the opposition to back his candidacy in order to aim for a 50 percent vote base. As of now, some key MPs from the SLPP have already pledged their support to Wickremesinghe while discussions are also ongoing with some key SJB MPs who are likely to declare their support to Wickremesinghe as soon as a Presidential election is announced.

But with all these discussions and negotiations presently ongoing, Wickremesinghe himself has, as of date, not been able to secure a comfortable 50 percent vote base and will likely form an alliance with other parliamentarians or even political parties in order to aim for a win.

The SLPP in the meantime who is facing a split - with some of its key members supporting Wickremesinghe and another lot wanting to field its own candidate - will definitely field a candidate under Basil Rajapaksa's guidance. When contacted for a confirmation, National Organizer of the SLPP, Namal Rajapaksa said that the party will field its own candidate and will have the pohotuwa symbol in the ballot paper. However, who the party will field has not been decided yet and Namal said several names were being considered including Wickremesinghe.

However Wickremesinghe has made it very clear that he will not contest under a pohotuwa symbol which will not make him a suitable candidate to represent the SLPP. Even if the SLPP fields its own candidate, as of date, none of its senior party members enjoy a 50 percent vote base and will have to campaign vigorously in hope of winning the presidency.

Sajith Premadasa who will contest on behalf of the main opposition SJB is also in troubled waters. With some of his key members already in talks with Wickremesinghe, which will then split his votes if these members cross over, will have to keep his party intact to secure the 50 percent vote base. In 2019, Premadasa secured a 40 percent win, but with trouble in his own party, as of date, he himself does not enjoy a 50 percent vote base.

The NPP's Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who started his election campaigning as early as last year, taking advantage of the NPP hype spreading across the country, is still attempting to secure the 50 percent vote base. His party has begun a vigorous campaign in all districts across the country in order to raise the support and numbers but to date, whether the party has achieved a 50 percent vote base is questionable.

According to political analysts on ground, a large percentage of the voters remain undecided on which candidate they will support.

Political sources said that after Vesak, in May, a formal announcement declaring the Presidential election is likely to be announced while some other key announcements are also likely to be made.

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Comments - 74

Nimal Friday, 19 April 2024 06:38 AM

My humble opinion is that there in one potential candidate who has already secured 50% and will continue to increase his vote base until the presidential election is held. As for our incumbent president, who came to power without any mandate from the people, irrespective of the strategy he would eventually adopt, he will not exceed 10%. What with his dismal performance so far, the Batalanda incidents, Central Bank scam under his belt, no constructive action being taken to jump start the ailing economy, prevalence of mass scale corruption and fraud, the heinous suppression of fundamental rights of the people and the generous use of tear gas and water cannon to suppress any opposition to his rule it would be a near miracle if the people decide to elect him as the leader of this nation.

Jude Friday, 19 April 2024 07:22 AM

If elections were held in October there's a very good chance AKD led NPP gonna secure 55% of the vote!!

Tissa Fernando Friday, 19 April 2024 04:45 PM

Yes if Facebook fake account votes can be counted he may win. After that you have to keep your mouth shut. No protests. No comments. If you cannot work, you will be officially terminated.

Jude Friday, 19 April 2024 07:24 AM

CBK MR and now Ranil GONNA change the party and the symbol!!

Jude Friday, 19 April 2024 07:27 AM

Voters are waiting patiently to put AKD as next president of SL. It's gonna be landslide victory to NPP.

Dee Friday, 19 April 2024 11:28 AM

Hey Jude! Which country you ran off to and commenting from? Just like that Natali nanayaka who is now ‘data quota over’ . Don’t waste your data unless the NPP has funded it to boost their image!

Wrong Decisions Have Consequences Friday, 19 April 2024 12:02 PM

@Dee - Sometimes I wonder the vast majority of Sri Lankan’s are educated and able to think what’s right and wrong. Yet uneducated people are voted in to run the country and to run the lives of the educated people. End of the day, something is not clicking correctly!

saman Friday, 19 April 2024 08:08 AM

The NPP's Anura Kumara Dissanayake and whether the party has achieved a 50 percent vote base is NOT questionable. It may be a question to the reporter but not to the people. By the way, we are sure that Ranil will never contest the presidency. The contest is between NPP and SJB. According to our predictions, the SLPP current vote base is 1.2 million.

Seetha Friday, 19 April 2024 09:58 AM

NPP never secured even 30% mate. You are just day dreaming.

DPerera Friday, 19 April 2024 02:00 PM

This time NPP will get 20%. RW will be the winner with 45%

Nilmini Welivita Friday, 19 April 2024 08:12 AM

Namal is the most suitable candidate for leading our country towards prosperity. The others are political failures or inexperienced.

Voter Friday, 19 April 2024 10:37 AM

That includes you

warren Friday, 19 April 2024 08:32 AM

Whatever the uncertainties, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe will emerge victorious, securing over 50% of the total vote.

R Sugathadasa Friday, 19 April 2024 10:56 AM

Good to see daydreamers in our nation.

Nodaking kalakanni Friday, 19 April 2024 02:51 PM

Last time I read the statistics, ranil was sitting on 9%. He will have to invite some Ugandan friends to reach 50%.

Saman Friday, 19 April 2024 08:34 AM

But on Facebook, AKD already won with a 80% majority!

warren Friday, 19 April 2024 12:28 PM

Yes, that is on Facebook. But in the face of the people, the numbers will reverse, and AKD will secure 08% of the vote!

Gayan Friday, 19 April 2024 08:35 AM

Sure D. Perera will be contesting. There is no one else capable of coming forward. Navin too is silent.

Ranjith Friday, 19 April 2024 08:35 AM

People are fed up with UNP ,SLPP and SLFP people have two options either voting for SJB or NPP, Key figures crossing over nothing new in Srilankan's politics, at the Presidential election people look at the candidates and decide whom to vote. UNP is the biggest looser in key figures leaving UNP and joining other parties because Ranil was promoting Ruwan for the party leadership to achieve this goal Ranil has done lot of damage to the party and hurt entire UNP supporters.

Jayantha Friday, 19 April 2024 08:37 AM

Lol. You have very poor knowledge about how a winner is decided in the presidential election. One does not have to get 50 percent to win the election. The winner is the one who gets one more vote than the candidate who comes second. This was clearly mentioned few years ago by formeer election commissioner. 2nd preferential vote option is count only if the leading two candidate gets exactly same number of votes. So winner can be even a person who gets 30 percent of total votes. By the wy Rw will never win even if he forms a mega alliance. He will come fourth or fifth.

Ranjith Friday, 19 April 2024 08:42 AM

SLPP and SLFP as political parties have to put forward their own candidates to move forward and protect their parties supporting any other candidate will bring disaster for their parties . Media hype people have a good knowledge and people will not accept garbage anymore, it's our future and country we have to protect, not these ruthless politicians ,thugs thief's and mafia

R Sugathadasa Friday, 19 April 2024 08:44 AM

The political analysts are day dreaming. Great majority of people unlike in many of the elections prior to this have already decided on which candidate. It is quite possible that the winner will secure nearly 70% of the votes

Kanchana Friday, 19 April 2024 09:59 AM

Day dreaming is not good for health.

Mithun Friday, 19 April 2024 08:51 AM

Is RW reached 15% as off now????

Nayananda Weerasekara Friday, 19 April 2024 08:56 AM

Bull. Iam for the NPP, with all it's weaknesses. The country should be cleaned of the three parties that brought about this suffering. Nayanada

Man Saturday, 20 April 2024 06:43 AM

Yes, three parties of the JVP, SLPP and SLFP as JVP ruled with Chandrika from 2003 to 2005 as Ministers with AKD was the agricultural minister did nothing and failed.

Voter Friday, 19 April 2024 08:57 AM

The anaylist will analyse as they are spin doctors for their own candidate.The voter remains supreme.With the advent of internet they are well informed.

Ranya Mhipala Friday, 19 April 2024 08:58 AM

We understand the writer's position perfectly but why insist on someone that cannot even win 2% of the total votes, if the election is held today. Lets not make cardboard heroes and try to hoodwink the masses.

Gune Ayya Friday, 19 April 2024 09:00 AM

Very likely what happened in 1977 will happen in 2024! As of now a large percentage of those who are silent now will vote for NPP. Simply because vast majority of ordinary people are finding it extremely difficult to just survive. Wait and see!

Kanchana Friday, 19 April 2024 09:59 AM

Really? Silent people will never vote for NPP since if they are already supporting NPP they won't stay silent. Lol

Jayantha Friday, 19 April 2024 10:46 AM

Wrong assumption. Majority of those who are silent are the block voters of either slpp,sjb or slfp. Majority of floating voters are already with npp but that alone is not enough to win a presidential election.

Anura Jayantha Friday, 19 April 2024 09:01 AM

The only way to know is hold the election! You will be surprised who will.lead with more than 50%

Patriot Friday, 19 April 2024 09:18 AM

Ranil has a master plan since 2022. Everything will fall into place at the right time. He will easily secure 50%.

Anura Jayantha Friday, 19 April 2024 10:16 AM

Similar to how the crooks in Pakistan won the elections Ranil has the support of western crooks to manipulate our politically uneducated voters.

European Friday, 19 April 2024 10:53 AM

Yeah, blame your own mess on the West once again.

Subodhana Friday, 19 April 2024 09:19 AM

Ranil will win.

Radasa Friday, 19 April 2024 11:00 AM

day dreaming

Nalaka Friday, 19 April 2024 09:24 AM

Ranil has predicted the economic downfall two years prior in 2020. He was relaxing and planning a great plan while he was at home for one year. He hijacked Pohottuwa and even became the president with only having just one seat. When he assumed power in 2022 he already had a plan to win this election. He tried to showcase himself as underdog deliberately and let other candidates get a false sense of confidence. We can see how well and fast he will rise as the only candidate who can win this election in the coming days.

Asoka Friday, 19 April 2024 06:56 PM

Day dreaming!

Tyronne Friday, 19 April 2024 09:27 AM

Even with nearly two years of campaigning NPP still couldn't secure a solid vote base. So many are going after it because they are the only horse currently running in the race. But most of them are not permanent and can change their decision at the last moment. Anura and co know this and trying very hard to present them as the only alternative. However they still couldn't finalise a proper economic policy even.

Rohini Friday, 19 April 2024 09:30 AM

My only hope is UNP and SJB should be united as one party again and show their power. Nevertheless my vote goes to Ranil.

Ranjith Friday, 19 April 2024 11:35 AM

Any particular reason Ranil has hurt UNP supporters over decades why should we vote for him why should SJB join with Ranil who destroyed our grand old party. We were insulted by our relatives and friends because of Ranil who was promoting Ruwan and so many left the party.

Caldera Friday, 19 April 2024 09:31 AM

The man of the hour. Ranil. Who has successfully led the the country in the most turbulent era the country ever faced. Will easily win this election for sure.

Pohottu Supporter Friday, 19 April 2024 09:57 AM

Namal R is the best candidate for Presidency to complete the 99% destruction of Sri Lanka carried out by his father. Namal can destroy the remaining 1% and complete 100% destruction of Sri Lanka.

Kanchana Friday, 19 April 2024 10:00 AM

Do not ever underestimate the man, Ranil. I'm pretty sure he has already won the election by looking at his confidence.

Palitha Friday, 19 April 2024 10:02 AM

As always the earliest comments are from NPP mud campaign team. Are they working 24x7 in the internet?

Roshanaly Friday, 19 April 2024 10:33 AM

Humble request for all the political Parties, do not waste money, RW will not keep any Election, unless he is sure of winning.

chux Friday, 19 April 2024 10:36 AM

No one is surprised why you published those articles ?? its cheap publicity when election happens people will certainly voste accordingly

Ranjith Perera Friday, 19 April 2024 10:55 AM

To determine how good Ranil is at planning, one must look at both ceasefire agreement and memorandum of understanding with LTTE in 2002 that he signed with them and why it failed.From this one can decides he is good strategist or deal maker and the latter needs only to meet self interests of the the other parties more than institutions and nation.In the ceasefire many key factors were absent at beset which were known for success of it Of them CBK whose support and her active role were required, transparency and openness to masses, imminent treat to national security , LTTE violations and countervailing to that in enlisting support of international community and domestic and getting Tamil diaspora on board using the good office international community. What are strategies he has today. Debts ,sugar coated hand outs without targeting at needy planting fake news and disinformation and splitting political parties.All these are not strategies anymore and they can only create anger at him.

Mahila Friday, 19 April 2024 03:08 PM

Sri Lankan's "SHORT 2-WEEK MEMORY"!!?? FORGOTTEN completely DEPRIVATION, of essentials, Rice, Cereals, Vegetables, Petrol, Diesel, Cooking Gas, Gas explosions and Starvation around every nook and corner of the country!!!??? NOTHING WAS DONE BY RW!!???

ThushG Friday, 19 April 2024 11:02 AM

The current resident is the individual who effectively guided the nation through its most turbulent period. Ranil securing victory in the upcoming presidential polls would benefit both the country and its economy.

Rasika Friday, 19 April 2024 11:19 AM

It is AKD

Prof. K.M.J. Pathirana Friday, 19 April 2024 11:42 AM

Correct, no one will get 50% votes and it is 100% true unless they join hands with others, they could not achieve the Most Presteguis post of the President. No way SLPP or SLFP or JVP will gain their majority but either UNP or SJB work jointly they could make the common candidate to walk through.

Atha Katha Somay (The truth) Friday, 19 April 2024 11:44 AM

One thing is for sure. 50% people will not cast their votes because they are fed-up with the Political rogues. Even in our family there are 12 votes, but no one will vote.

Patcitz Friday, 19 April 2024 12:07 PM

No, Rajapaksas SLPP will win, people have uderstood and realized the CONSPIRACY that the US carried out to oust Gotabaya Rajapaksa, because of their Chinese link, that led the US to bring the Gotabaya's Regime to an end.

Lakshman maddumahewa Friday, 19 April 2024 12:43 PM

Yes no one will pass 50%.But former UNPers who kept away voting during last GE and majority of SJB ers together will vote for RW.At least 30% phohotuwas also cast votes for RW.So RW will be predictable winner.AKD wiĺl get 5% of total votes .

Lakshman maddumahewa Friday, 19 April 2024 12:43 PM

Yes no one will pass 50%.But former UNPers who kept away voting during last GE and majority of SJB ers together will vote for RW.At least 30% phohotuwas also cast votes for RW.So RW will be predictable winner.AKD wiĺl get 5% of total votes .

Dr Saman Friday, 19 April 2024 12:51 PM

NPP is clearly in the lead. In Sri Lanka people don't want vote for the 3rd candidate - so Ranil will get less than 5% of the vote

Democrat Friday, 19 April 2024 02:26 PM

Totally agree with your opinion

Mithun Friday, 19 April 2024 01:22 PM

We are with AKD

Last chance Friday, 19 April 2024 01:58 PM

Some time Things happen making opinions and assumptions dam squib . The opinion which people carried some time back was that no presidential candidate could get 50 of the votes through the vote cast by the south alone but that assumption was broken by Gotha obtaing 60 percent vote from the south of Srilanka.So the opinions can’t be guaranteed under such circumstances.

avanka perera Friday, 19 April 2024 02:04 PM

RW without power is selling the country taxing the people and protecting rouges and if he gets power can you imaging what will happen, we want our robbed assets back from the rouges only NPP can do it some the present is different to past I also did not like NPP but now I like them and will vote for them

Natalie Nanayakara Friday, 19 April 2024 02:05 PM

AKD all the way, let’s kick the incompetent scum out for eternity because we people have suffered enough with these lowlifes.

bless me Friday, 19 April 2024 02:31 PM

During the last election lot of opinions were expressed indicating that it is not possible to get more then 50 percent from the south alone but gotha achieved getting more than 60 percent, how is that?

Grace Friday, 19 April 2024 06:04 PM

Consequence of Easter attacks. But not again because people know the ground realities now.

Gamage Friday, 19 April 2024 02:51 PM

earlier 6.9M voted for a man who promised to make SL a Singapore, but ran away leaving behind Rs.17M in his cupboard. Wonder what will happen if those intelligent 6.9M people are still around and decide to vote this time for AKD to bring a system change

Jagath Leanage Friday, 19 April 2024 04:11 PM

If Ranil contest alone or with all alliances, maximum he get will be 25% .

Gandapala Suwandawatie Friday, 19 April 2024 04:49 PM

Some gonas including Nilmini Welivita have no idea of the SL politics and the bankrupt of SL? Kick Myna and company and Wal Aliya! Let the other get some votes!!

Buddhist Friday, 19 April 2024 05:02 PM

The best scenario would be for Anura Kumara to join hands with Sajith and support the SJB's presidency. Anura can hold the law and order ministry and a few other ministries through his party members. Harini can be the Minister in charge of recovering stolen money.

Priyanee Wijesekera Friday, 19 April 2024 06:22 PM

People who refuse to admit reality I.e that Ranil has dragged the country out of bankruptcy and hell will ensure that the country will be destroyed.

Man Saturday, 20 April 2024 06:46 AM

By taxing ordinary people and after giving tax concessions for his friends. What a way.

Ranjith Friday, 19 April 2024 07:30 PM

Key members of UNP Have crossed over to SJB, NPP and SLPP long time ago not only key members even loyal supporters of UNP for generations are not supporting the UNP as long as Ranil is the leader of UNP ,no point talking about 2019 Presidential elections percentages now ground situation has completely changed media mafia also has to be careful about what they are writing people are not interested in rubbish anymore.

Dasa P Friday, 19 April 2024 10:49 PM

AKD

Shirley Saturday, 20 April 2024 07:18 AM

Form favorable economy in 1945,we came down to bankruptcy in 2022 thank to major parties ,who ruled the country, but what ever the difficulties of public,they demanded fringe benefits to cheer up themselves,such as official houses, more fuel,family members as own staff, vehicles and a pension after just for five years for just helping towards bankruptcy,but only NPP promising to repeal this unacceptable allowance for all parliamentarians,so I don’t have any choice but only voting NPP

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No presidential candidate has secured a 50% vote base as of date

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