by Buddhika Samaraweera in The Morning, June 1, 2023
President Ranil Wickremesinghe suggested that it is appropriate for the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) to implement their political programmes separately but in a mutually non-harmful manner, and the two parties need to consult the Party leadership and its membership prior to responding to issues of similar nature, The Daily Morning learnt.
The President had suggested this during the meeting he had with the representatives of the SLPP and the UNP on Monday (29). The President had called Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the Cabinet of Ministers, a selected number of State Ministers, former Cabinet and State Ministers who are the SLPP’s District Leaders, and representatives of the UNP for a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday.
When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire about the outcome of the meeting, the SLPP’s General Secretary and Parliamentarian, Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that the future political programmes of the SLPP and the UNP had been discussed during the meeting. “The President informed us that the popularity of both the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led National People’s Power has gone down as per the latest intelligence information that he has received. In that context, he said that now is a better time for us to strengthen our political programmes.” He said that President Wickremesinghe had pointed out that it was not essential for the SLPP and the UNP to work together, but that there should be a mutual understanding between them. “He said that we can work separately, but that we should work with some agreement. For instance, he said that there should be no room for damage to the two Parties because of what each other does. It was also reflected that he is ready to make decisions as the President in a way that does not harm the SLPP’s political opinions.”
When queried as to whether the SLPP representatives had agreed during the meeting to work in the way that was suggested by the President, Kariyawasam said: “As a political Party, we cannot make a prompt response to such a matter at a meeting. There is the former President and Prime Minister, and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the SLPP Leader, and there are other levels of leaders, former Provincial Council and Local Government Councilors and Members, and the SLPP’s youth organisations. We should consult all those parties before making a response. Therefore, we informed the President that we would respond to him after discussing with them.”
In mid 2022, Wickremesinghe was appointed as the Prime Minister in the face of massive protests against then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP led Government. He was thereafter elected as the President with the majority support of the SLPP in a Parliamentary vote held following the resignation of Rajapaksa from the Presidency in July, 2022.
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/vexdh0JTGv3eJHP4KBHp
