.. two cabinet ministers to address the gathering

The New Alliance consisting of SLPP MPs backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold its second public rally tomorrow (24) at Hyde Park Corner commencing at 2 pm. Two cabinet ministers, including the Education Minister who is also Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha will address the gathering.

The New Alliance launched its campaign last month from the JaEla electorate, where speakers assured the group would stand for measures to strengthen the economy.

Among the MPs listed to address the Hyde Park meeting are Minister Nalin Fernando and MPs, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Priyankara Jayaratne and Nimal Lanza.Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private secretary Sugeeswara Bandara has received appointment as New Alliance’s Colombo District chief organiser.

In the absence of the SLPP decision either to field a candidate of its own at the forthcoming presidential poll or declare its support to Ranil Wickremesinghe whom it elected President in July 2022 to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, a substantial group of MPs has extended support to the UNP leader, political sources said.The group included Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga, MP, and the SLPP’s Gampaha district strongman (SF)