UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa has reportedly expressed willingness to form a broad coalition independently and contest the next Presidential election, if the UNP does not give him nominations.
The Anidda newspaper reported this stating that a leader of the Sajith faction had revealed this information.
This new coalition is said to include Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mano Ganesan and P. Digambaram from the United National Front.
The Sajith faction senior member had told the Anidda newspaper that the discussions in this regard had been successful.
Lanka gives Premiership to Sajith – Anidda on the fence
Meanwhile, the Sunday Lankadeepa published by the JVP had reported that during the meeting held between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa on August 06th, the PM had agreed to grant nominations to
Sajith for the Premiership.
However, subsequent to Sajith discussing the offer with his group, they had taken the decision to be firm on the demand for Presidential candidacy and not get caught to Ranil’s tactics.
Meanwhile, the Anidda headlines read that during the Ranil-Sajith meeting if Sajith was not being given nominations for presidential candidacy he had sought the leadership of the party and the Premiership, but his request had
not received a favourable response from Wickremesinghe.
12th is the date
The Sajith faction had reported that Minister Harin Fernando is organising a massive rally in Badulla to announce Sajith Premadasa’s presidential candidacy.
It is said by the Premadasa faction that the progressive people had been hopeful that the Rajapaksa faction could be politically defeated since 20015, only after the 2004 Provincial Council elections.
The first shot in the defeat of the Rajapaksa regime was fired at the Uva Provincial Council elections under the able youth leadership of Harin Fernando, who has faith in Sajith Premadasa.
It is notable that while the SLPP is preparing to announce the name of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as their presidential candidate at their General Assembly on August 11th, the Sajith faction is preparing to announce the
candidacy of Sajith on the 12th.
The public rally that is organised in the Badulla town under the patronage of Sajith Premadasa, which is expected to be attended my many MPs of the UNP.
UNP leader forbids attending meeting
However, the UNP leader is said to have banned any of the UNP members from attending this meeting and in the event they do, they could face expulsion from the party. The party leadership is said to have notified the relevant
heads regarding this decision already.
It is also said that those attending the meeting could face issues regarding their MP posts too.
Sajith coming! – with Flash Back music
Meanwhile, the poster used by Harin to promote the attendance of Sajith and notify the Badulla public, has been viewed with amazement over social media.
The section that has caused amusement is “Sajith is coming with Flash Back music”.
(Mirror)