Dozens of SLPP members turnup at Temple Trees showing solidarity with Prime Minister

Dozens of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)  Local Government members and party supporters have started turning up at the Temple Trees to show solidarity with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and call him to remain in office.

More than 300 SLPP local government members and supporters who arrived at the Temple Tress have been taken into the premises while more have been arriving.

“We are not sure whether we could take all of them in as many have informed us that they are coming in,” an official attached to the Prime Minister’s office said.

Several members said that they will be calling on the Prime Minister to stay in office on the grounds that there was support for him in the SLPP.

“We are not sure what the Prime Minister will tell us and his decision, but our position is that his popularity within the party was still high, compared to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa”,  a SLPP member from the Kalutara district said.

The moves came amid reports that Prime Minister Rajapaksa will announce his retirement today.
However, there has been no official comment though there was speculation last night that he had already sent in his resignation to the President. 

However, MP Namal Rajapaksa on his Twitter account shared a video clip from a statement made by the Premier earlier in which he says whether he is the prime Minister or not it does not matter.

The comment had been made during the 52 day political crisis in which he was appointed as the premier by former President Maithripala Sirisena in the latter part of 2018 and was forced to quit after a court ruling. 

The moves come as public resent against the government was building up with long queues outside fuel stations and gas stations and public protests over the shortages.

Several roads have been blocked by protesters demanding gas. Among them has been the Negombo road which has been blocked off at Peliyagoda.

Protests have been also taking place against the declaration of a state of emergency. 

The Human Rights Commission has today summoned President’s Secretary Gamini Senarath, Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne and Inspector  General of Police C.D.Wickremaratne to reason out the decision to declare a state of emergency and the enforcing process.