Several hats in the ring but eventual two horse race?

Several hats will be thrown into the ring when parliament elects one of its members later this week as the new president to serve ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksas balance term, political insiders said on Friday hours before this edition of the Sunday Island went to press.A political insider opined on Friday that despite various names being discussed, it would eventually be a two horse race between Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and one other candidate. He said that discussions were ongoing on whether the opposition will run one or more candidates.

The breaking news on Friday was that the SLPP will back Ranil Wickremesinghe. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam made the formal announcement on Friday evening.Parliament will meet on Saturday when former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation and the vacancy arising as a consequence will be formally communicated. Thereafter nominations will be called, closing Tuesday with voting on Wednesday on the election of a successor if there is more than one candidate.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) of the Rajapaksas will not be officially running a candidate at the poll which will be by secret ballot. This is widely interpreted in some quarters to suggest that this party, which with 145 seats commands the majority in the 225-member legislature, is likely to largely support acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe who will be a formidable runner despite his UNP having only one seat in the legislature.

“Ranil was able to remain prime minister in recent weeks thanks to the SLPP support he commands. Otherwise he would have been toppled by a no-confidence motion which wasn’t even attempted,” a political insider said. “But anything can happen in a secret ballot.”However over 40 MPs elected under the SLPP banner but belonging to mostly small parties took their seats in the opposition saying they will be “independent.” How they will vote is an open question. Most of them are unlikely to support Wickremesinghe.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who, as deputy leader of the UNP under Ranil Wickremesinghe, ran against Gotabaya Rajapaksa clearly harbors presidential ambitions. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera went on record on Friday saying his party with 14 seats will back Premadasa for prime minister. SJB sources said they will field Premadasa for president.

This was after Wickremesinghe, appointed acting president hours before Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, called on the Speaker to name a lawmaker commanding the most support in the legislature to be invited to be prime minister and form a government.

It was unclear as this was being written whether a new prime minister and a government will be appointed when the election of a new president within days was imminent.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, appointed to parliament on the SJB National list, and serving as its chairman, has expressed willingness to serve as president. He said on Wednesday that he had not communicated this to Premadasa claiming there was no obligation to do so.

MP Dallas Alahapperuma has been frequently mentioned aa favored SLPPer for leadership position. He has been a longtime Rajapaksa loyalist. There was no word on whom the Rajapaksas favor to succeed GR. But there have been allegations that Wickremesinghe, as prime minister of the previous yahapalana government dragged his feet on using the might of the state against the Rajapaksas.

There was unconfirmed speculation that Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksas are in discussion. Basil Rajapaksa, the national organizer and founder of the SLPP, is considered that party’s eminence grise and is expected to be a vital player in ongoing maneuvering.

“Several candidates will mean a divided vote that will influence the eventual outcome,” a political insider said.