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Seetha ready to make way for GR to enter P’ment

06 Sep 2022

BY Rebecca Pavey   Amidst speculation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returning to active politics and possibly entering Parliament, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List MP Seetha Arambepola has offered to give up her Parliamentary seat to make way for former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the event he wishes to enter Parliament. Arambepola, speaking to the media, noted however that it is highly unlikely that Rajapaksa will enter Parliament, adding that no such request has been made by the SLPP or any other party thus far. She further assured that no discussion pertaining to giving up her seat or Rajapaksa’s possible entry into Parliament has taken place within the party. Speaking to the media on Rajapaksa’s potential return to politics, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that the decision was one that Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself would make, adding that it was nobody else’s right or concern to make decisions on behalf of another. In a similar vein to what was said by Arambepola, SLPP General Secretary and MP Sagara Kariyawasam too stated that no request has been made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa to anyone within the party to give up their MP seat on his behalf. When inquired by the media as to whether Rajapaksa’s potential return to politics would be favourable to the party, Kariyawasam said: “He was a President who had the most votes in the history of Sri Lanka; thus, having him would be a strong point for anyone, not just our party.”  When queried as to whether the SLPP would allow Rajapaksa to enter Parliament, Kariyawasam noted that the party will act in accordance with Rajapaksa’s decision. Minister of Education and SLPP MP Dr. Susil Premajayantha, also speaking to the press, stated however that it is unlikely that Rajapaksa will enter Parliament after having borne the title of the President of the country, reasoning that there was no point in doing so. Meanwhile, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa stated while speaking to the media that it was President Ranil Wickremesinghe who enabled Rajapaksa’s return despite the latter being ousted by the people of the country, while SJB MP J.C. Alawathuwala, speaking to the media, blamed Rajapaksa for the ongoing crises in Sri Lanka. Speaking to the media on Rajapaksa’s return to Sri Lanka, SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha suggested that this was probably a condition or rather an agreement that was agreed upon when Wickremesinghe accepted the Presidency.  “It is clear now that Wickremesinghe has kept his end of the deal,” Jayamaha claimed. Thus, Jayamaha called on Wickremesinghe to hold an election next year, allowing for the people to elect a new Parliament, which would also enable him to carry out his Presidential duties with lesser resistance.


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