JVP: Presidential contest will ruin chances of unity govt.

by Saman Indrajith

JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath, addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte yesterday said: “The number of contestants is increasing. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former minister Dullas Alahapperuma, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa are there. We have decided to field our leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. That decision was made after a lengthy effort to get a plan acceptable to all prepared. We proposed that the Speaker of Parliament be sworn in as the Acting President and an MP who does not intend to contest the next election should be appointed the Prime Minister with a 10-member Cabinet for an interim period before a general election is held. We spoke of this plan with other political parties and there was an overwhelming support promised, but subsequently some parties struck a discordant note. We decided to field our own candidate for the president from many political parties.

“Ranil Wickremesinghe has been promised SLPP support. In return, he will ensure nothing but safe succession of pro-Rajapaksa dynasty policies. He has no moral right to seek the presidency. He should not be allowed to become President unless anyone wants to see the continuation of Rajapaksa rule. It is he who protected Rajapaksas, and if he wins, he will do the same.MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya, General Secretary of NPP Dr Nihal Abeysinghe also addressed the press.