SJB places conditions for PM post as Ranil steps in

The main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has put forwarded a set of conditions to the President if their leader Sajith Premadasa is to take up the Prime Minister post. 

SJB General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that their party leader would take up the Prime Minister post if the president resigned or at least scheduled to resign from his post after a short period of time since the new government takes office.

The party sources said that however, the President is willing to continue in his post. They indicated that taking the Premiership post during a crisis situation is a risky move, therefore they are laying conditions which would be in their favour.

Meanwhile, a key official attached to the United National Party ( UNP) told the Times online that their party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had taken up the challenge and is willing to become the Prime Minister.

He assured that  Mr Wickremesinghe would most likely be appointed as the next prime minister. He added that more than 15 members of the opposition are to join them. 

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party Leader as well as the Sixth Executive President Maithripala Sirisena issued a statement saying that eleven independent parties have proposed several names for the post of Prime Minister during a meeting held yesterday. 

However, they have not presented the names to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, long queues are formed at the fuel stations and gas distribution centers while the islandwide curfew was lifted, however, the curfew is scheduled to be re-imposed at 2.00 pm.

Following the President’s address to the nation yesterday, where he said that a new Prime Minister and a cabinet would be appointed within this week, political parties are competing with each other and proposing names for the vacant position.