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Rohitha makes u-turn and abandones Rajapaksas

04 Aug, 2024

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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has, in a surprise move, abandoned the Rajapaksas and decided to back Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential polls.

Abeygunawardena said that he had decided listen to his supporters and change his stand.

The MP had earlier decided to support SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and back an SLPP nominated candidate at the 21 September elections.

Ninety-two MPs, mostly representing the SLPP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had met the President in the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, last Tuesday, and guaranteed their support to him at the election in September.

The SLPP had decided last week to dump President Ranil Wickremesinghe and put forward its own candidate at the Presidential polls.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told reporters last week that the SLPP decided, by majority, to nominate its own candidate at the election in September.

Meanwhile, SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had said on Thursday that he will stick with the decision taken by the party to pick an SLPP candidate to contest the Presidential election.

Rajapaksa told reporters there is no change in the party decision and he will stick to that decision. (Colombo Gazette)

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