In a recent meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) emphasized the necessity of addressing critical issues before pledging support in the upcoming presidential election, as reported by a reliable source.
Originally scheduled to take place at the President’s official residence, the meeting experienced a change of venue to the Presidential Secretariat. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam raised objections to the meeting’s transformation into an all-party gathering without prior notice.
Initially invited to the President’s residence with the expectation of an exclusive discussion between the party and the President, the SLPP found itself in a meeting that included representatives from other parties, including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Nimal Lanza group.
President Wickremesinghe, at the beginning of the meeting, expressed his intention to gather perspectives on the modalities for contesting the upcoming presidential election. Tensions escalated when Kariyawasam expressed frustration over the unexpected inclusion of other party representatives, insisting that his party was not prepared to discuss presidential election matters abruptly. He emphasized the need to address specific issues before engaging in any election-related discussions.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, representing the SLFP, suggested separate meetings due to time constraints and highlighted the active participation of opposition parties such as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power.
In response, Kariyawasam underscored that the SLPP operates differently from other parties and insisted on a separate meeting with the President. He clarified that the SLPP had not yet made a decision regarding support for any specific candidate.
