Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday requested the public to focus on quality and conduct a background evaluation of each Presidential candidate, as it was the public’s responsibility to elect the most suitable candidate as President.
Speaking to media at SLPP head office, Parliamentarian Pavithra Wanniarachchi said the wrong leader could lead a nation to a devastating end, which will be irreversible.
“People have to be careful about those individuals who suddenly come out from nowhere and claim themselves to be the next presidential candidate. We do not know who they are, and from where they come from. Some claim they have special abilities, or will spend their wealth to develop the country, but people have to think critically and understand what they are up to,” she said.
She claimed some individuals were used by political parties to mislead voters, and prevent the SLPP from getting the majority of votes during the Presidential Election. According to Wanniarachchi some of the individuals who claim to be potential Presidential candidates were paid by certain political parties, but she declined to give details.
“Information was received that some of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Western countries and Tamil diaspora were behind some of these individuals, and they are plotting to appoint a President who will work according to their agendas,” she claimed.
Referring to the Presidential candidate of the United National Party (UNP), Wanniarachchi said the recent UNP meeting had shown the party was unable to choose a suitable candidate for the Presidential Election, which according to her, might lead to serious disagreements within the party.
“Even this time, the UNP might have to name a common candidate, as they were unable to select a suitable candidate. This has shown how weak the UNP is as a political party. But the SLPP has already agreed that the party will support the candidate that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to name on 11 August during the party’s convention.”
The SLPP earlier said they would conduct fresh discussions with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to seek their support for the SLPP Presidential candidate, and the discussion is likely to be held this week.
(FT)