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Main political parties rev their engines after Election Commission announces poll date
View(s):Major political parties stepped up their election campaigns following the announcement of the presidential election by the election commission this week.
President Ranil Wickeremsighe joined his first election rally in Galle yesterday. The rally themed “Ekawa Jayagamu Api Galle” was organised by Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirna and a group of Galle district politicians.
Among them were Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, UNP chairman Wajira Abeywardena, MP Sampath Athukorala, State Minister Mohan P. de Silva, and State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe.
The UNP rally in Galle yesterday
Addressing the event, President Wickremesinghe officially declared that he would contest the election and said he had already made his deposit.
President Wickeremsinghe on Friday made the deposit as an independent candidate.
He said that he thought deeply before making the decision to contest and explained that he had thought more deeply two years ago when he took over the responsibility.
“In 2022, I was asked to take the Prime Minister position as there was no one else to take the position. I think it was the first time in Sri Lanka and in Asia that the Prime Minister position went begging as there was no one to take on the position,” he said.
“I thought I would take up the position and turn the situation into a success; I did this within a span of two years. In my life, I have never run away from a challenge. I don’t make lengthy speeches, but if I engage in a task, I do it well,” he said.
SJB rally in Ratnapura
A notable crossover was SJB Anauradapura District parliamentarian Ishak Rahuman.
The rally was addressed by Foreign Minister Ali Subry, SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Manusha Nanayakkara, Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, Ishak Rahuman, and Ramesh Pathirana.
A large crowd had gathered at the ground where the rally was held and the vicinity.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party, held its rally at Ratnapura, Kahawatta area, yesterday. The rally was themed Vijayagrahi Samagi Jana paura.
A large crowd was seen at the rally.
Addressing the rally opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that they would have the Jana Paura Programme and claim victory at the upcoming election.
“The prevailing situation is sad; the President appointed to fill in the gap is using his school friend Dinesh Gunawardena and hiding behind parliamentary privilege. He says that he would not accept the Supreme Court decision as it is baseless,” he said.
He challenged both Dinsh Gunawardena and President Wickremesinghe to make the same comment on the election stage outside of parliament. Then they will have to respond to contempt of court.
Posters announcing the NPP rally scheduled for today in Chilaw
Mr. Premadasa said that there are no forever presidents, prime ministers, or forever governments. He said that under his government he would make all who violated the Constitution and Supreme Court orders answerable to the law.
The SJB rally was addressed by Nalin Bandara, M. Velu Kumar, Hesha Withanage, Kabir Hasim, G.L. Peiris, Tissa Attanyake, Thalatha Atukorala, and Mano Ganeshan.
The National People’s Power (NPP) meanwhile, is due to hold a public rally in Chilaw today (28) attended by its leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The rally is part of earlier scheduled rallies prior to the announcement of the presidential election date, a party spokesman told the Sunday Times. He said the NPP’s election meeting schedule for the campaign period was still being finalised.
The cash deposit on behalf of the NPP leader for the election will be made next week, the spokesman added.
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