Prez opens campaign office:

Dissident SLPP MP Nimal Lanza attended yesterday’s opening of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political operations centre at Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha.

SLFP Chairman Nimal Siripala de Silva, too, attended the event amidst the ongoing battle between two factions for the control of the party. MEP leader and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena joined the event to mark the launch of Wickremesinghe’s presidential polls campaign.

Political sources say that Lanza-Anura Priyadarshana Yapa-led group was engaged in talks with the SLFP (Nimal Siripala de Silva faction backed by former President Kumaratunga) for the formation of an alliance to back Wickremesinghe at the presidential poll.

Recently MP Yapa told The Island that they were confident the group could muster the support of about 30 MPs.

A notable absentee was UNP General Secretary and former State Minister Palitha Range Bandara who recently caused quite a stir by calling for the postponement of both presidential and parliamentary polls by two years.

The UNP’s only MP in parliament Wajira Abeywardena (National List) organised the setting up of the campaign office, which was previously used as PM’s office under various governments. (SF)