Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP and Minister Bandula Gunawardena has extended his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who he says has proven to be a leader who will not drag the country into a crisis.
Addressing a public meeting in Homagama on Monday, Minister Bandula Gunawardena called on everyone willing to join hands to extend their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.
Minister Gunawardena further said when the country was facing constitutional and economic crises, President Wickremesinghe stepped forward and took charge, following which several necessary legislations were introduced to revive the economy.
“To prevent the country from going bankrupt once again in the future, we must all continue this program together. There is no other solution. If we abandon the International Monetary Fund, we cannot prepare a budget,” he warned.
Minister Bandula Gunawardena said, therefore, it was decided that Ranil Wickramasinghe, who has brought the country to where it is today should be given the Presidency.
“He has no offspring to protect. He only has to play the role of uplifting the country. Based on this, we declared that we would support him regardless of party differences,” he said.
SLPP MP Bandula Gunawardena said the decision was conveyed at the party meeting held yesterday, but the SLPP Politburo was of the view of fielding a candidate from the party for the Presidential Election.
He revealed that 11 SLPP members, including himself, Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga, Kanchana Wijesekera, and Ramesh Pathirane, and former Minister S.B. Dissanayake had requested the SLPP not to do so.
“We requested all to work together to raise the country once again and to extend support to Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is running independently as the common candidate, on this occasion only.
“Eleven of us voted against the SLPP’s proposal, while the other group did not express any opposition. Another proposal was also submitted that all members who are not in favour of that proposal and support any other presidential candidate, regardless of rank, will be subject to disciplinary action. We did not oppose that proposal. All were in favour of the disciplinary inquiry proposal,” he said.
Stating that it was his duty to inform this decision to the public, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that as it was impossible to support a candidate who would allow the country and the people to fall into a crisis again, he has decided to extend his support for Ranil Wickramasinghe, who has the strength and vision to rebuild the country. (Newswire)
