Ranil, Dullas in close presidential race today

20 July 2022 06:54 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Several MPs had pledged their support through telephone calls and personal discussions
Dullas was also campaigning hard for the presidential race

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe till late last night maintained a closer edge in winning the presidential race today as a number of MPs had pledged their support to him through telephone calls and personal discussions, the Daily Mirror learns.

Till late last night Wickremesinghe had spoken to several MPs including those in the opposition, assuring them of their security and paving the country out of the economic crisis.

While public statements were made from a number of political party leaders to support Dullas Alahapperuma, MPs from within those parties had assured to support Wickremesinghe due to the economic plan he had outlined and the security that he had assured them.

Dullas Alahapperuma on the other hand was also campaigning hard for the presidential race along with his prime ministerial candidate Sajith Premadasa and the two, along with GL Peiris had also attended the TNA meeting held last evening, in a bid to persuade the Tamil MPs to vote for Dullas.

The Tamil Parliamentarians had put forward five demands which were handed over to Dullas and Sajith saying if the duo agreed to these demands then the TNA would vote in favour of Dullas.

TNA sources said the demands included releasing all political prisoners immediately and the Sri Lankan government must cooperate with the UNHRC Geneva Resolution.

Other demands included the release of all private lands, including those occupied by the army and archaeological sites in the North and East, the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) must restart inquiries into missing persons, and a process must start to resolve the Tamil national issue.

The duo had agreed to these demands.

Sajith however did not have it easy with his own party the SJB with many SJB Parliamentarians pulling him up for his decision to withdraw from the presidential race. The Daily Mirror learns that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had vented his anger on Sajith and informed him that if he was not confident of winning, he should have let Fonseka to contest from the party. Some SJB MPs, by last evening, were also split in the party's general decision of voting in favour of Dullas.

National People's Power Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was also campaigning hard yesterday said if elected, he would limit the cabinet to a maximum of 10 members, seek support from foreign countries and international organisations to stabilise the economy, reduce powers vested in the Executive Presidency and re-initiate the actions against corruption. However, till last night, Dissanayake was falling short of numbers to win the race.

Parliament will meet at 10 am this morning and voting for the new President will kick off in the morning. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

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Comments - 19

Chris Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:30 AM

ක්‍රියාදාමයේදී නිර්භීතව කතා කරන සහ පලා යන මිනිසා දුවන සජිත් මහතා අගමැති වීමට ඇති දැඩි කෑදරකමට SJB පාවා දුන්නේය

W.D. Wimalasena (Attorney-at-Law) Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:34 AM

Let even at the last moment wise men should vote for Anura Kumara.

ANTON Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:15 AM

... AND WASTE THEIR VOTES.

Truth (Atha) Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:36 AM

Dullas becoming the President will be a fruitful result then Sajith will become the Prime Minister and the country will prosper.

P. Shehan Bassanayake Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:38 AM

People will not accept Ranil as he is a dictator worse than Hitler.

K. Bandula Wijesinghe (Kandy MC) Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:40 AM

If Ranil become President he will be pasted to the chair until death.

Ven Kottawa Amaratissa Thero Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:42 AM

Anura Kumara is the suitable candidate to be our President as he is a loyal servant of SriLanka, we need a honest person indeed.

Leel Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:46 AM

Ranil will work on Rajapakshe's agenda, never to be trusted moreover he will form a cabinet with rogues.

Atha Katha Somay Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:48 AM

SLPP Ex-Ministers whose Mansions and assets were burnt will support Ranil for them to re-build their wealth, this is the reality.

Hubert Congreve Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:50 AM

What a joke all the looters are going to select the President, Ofcourse the people will have to select the Leader of our nation.

LTE Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:52 AM

If Ranil will becomes the President, he will bring all corrupted UNP lost members back to the cabinet for sure.

Truth/Truth/Truth Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:57 AM

All the court cases against SLPP rotters will be withdrawn if Ranil becomes President, this is the agreement Ranil-SLPP robbers including Johnstan, Rohitha, Mahinananda, Rambukwella

Mizaru Wednesday, 20 July 2022 07:58 AM

Dear Mr. Fonseka. We have tasted an ex Army may have learnt a bitter lesson. The majority of you ex army guys are with a OL eduction just as Nandasena and Sarth (the jungi man). So just back off and do some farming in the village and enjoy you retired life.

Candy Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:04 AM

How easy it is to agree to demands before an election !!!

ANTON Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:19 AM

@ SARATH FONSEKA, DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO RUN A COUNTRY? IT IS BECAUSE OF OVER CONFIDENT, UNEDUCATED, SELF SERVING POLITICIANS THAT SRI LANKA IS IN THIS DIRE PREDICAMENT.

Nihal P Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:20 AM

The best couple is going to get. The whole country is going to hell with one meal. Let's get another set for next season.

Neil Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:36 AM

AKD is the best of the three, but he cannot win in the parliament. Ranil should be defeated for the country to go forward.

Sammy Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:56 AM

Ranil has already been dumped by the public and such a person becoming President would lead to further revolts. If he were to handle the situation with an iron hand there would be total chaos.

Benjamin George Wednesday, 20 July 2022 10:10 AM

DM spreading falsehood regarding 5 dubious demands n whipping up racism. Shame.

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Ranil, Dullas in close presidential race today

Comments - 19

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