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SLPP to welcome GR, RW says bad time for return

02 Aug 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam has said that if former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is willing to engage in politics with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) after his return to Sri Lanka, the SLPP will gladly accept him, while President Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the US-based Wall Street Journal that it was not the right time for Rajapaksa to return to the country, as it could inflame political tensions. Wickremesinghe has remained in contact with Rajapaksa to deal with administrative handover issues and other Government business, the report said. “I don’t believe it’s the time for him to return,” Wickremesinghe said in an interview with the newspaper. “I have no indication of him returning soon.” Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo yesterday (1), Kariyawasam said that Rajapaksa’s return is not something out of the ordinary, adding that the latter, as a Sri Lankan, has the full right to return to the country. He also mentioned that, given that Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan citizen and a former President, the Government has full responsibility to provide him with the necessary facilities and security. When questioned as to whether Rajapaksa will join the SLPP and engage in political activities after returning to Sri Lanka, Kariyawasam said: “It is for him to decide as to whether he would engage in politics or not, after coming back to Sri Lanka. If he wishes to do so, we will be very happy to receive him. He is a former President and the Presidential candidate of our party. So we have no hesitation in receiving him.” Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said on 26 July that Rajapaksa, who fled to Singapore earlier this month, will return to Sri Lanka. However, when the media questioned the Government’s stance on his potential return to Sri Lanka in August, pointing out that his visa request was denied by the US, Gunawardena said that the matter had not been discussed at that week’s Cabinet of Ministers meeting.  “I do not believe that he (Rajapaksa) is in hiding, as he has obtained an official visa, and based on my knowledge on the matter, he will return. If he faces any issues in this regard, the relevant authorities will ensure that our former President will face no danger. I do not know a proper return date yet,” said Gunawardena. Amidst the most drastic economic collapse the country has witnessed since Independence, Rajapaksa fled the island on 13 July following the massive protest demanding his resignation which was attended by millions of people on 9 July in Colombo. During the protest, the people occupied the President's House, and the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. Rajapaksa had then been taken to a safe location by the Security Forces and he had left for the Maldives in an aircraft belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force on 13 July. He then flew to Singapore, where he has extended his short-stay visa allowing him to stay until 11 August.


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