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SLPP leadership under pressure to back Ranil

22 Jul, 2024

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By Easwaran Rutnam

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leadership is being put under pressure by a number of SLPP MPs to back Ranil Wickremsinghe at the Presidential elections.

Wickremsinghe has had talks with the SLPP leadership in an attempt to reach a consensus ahead of the elections.

However, some SLPP MPs want their own candidate to be put forward instead of Wickremesinghe.

A number of SLPP MPs holding Cabinet or State Minister portfolios and some SLPP MPs have told the leadership to back Wickremesinghe at the polls, Colombo Gazette learns.

Ministers Kanchana Wijesekera, Prasanna Ranatunga and Shehan Semasinghe have already indicated they will back Wickremesinghe despite their party, the SLPP, not taking a formal decision.

SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage has also spoken in support of Wickremesinghe and called for the unconditional backing of the SLPP.

Wickremesinghe himself has not yet announced if he will contest at the elections as he is still gathering support before making a formal announcement. (Colombo Gazette)

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