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CBK denies son set to enter politics

12 Sep 2022

By Buddhika Samaraweera   Denying speculation that there are plans to bring former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s son Dr. Vimukthi Kumaratunga into politics through the New Lanka Freedom Party (NLFP) led by MP Kumara Welgama, the former President has reaffirmed that there are no such plans. The headquarters of the NLFP was recently opened in Battaramulla, and Kumaratunga attended the event as the chief guest. After that incident, there were reports on social media platforms, speculating that Dr. Kumaratunga, who is currently in the United Kingdom, was preparing to enter politics through the NLFP. However, in response to those reports, an official of the former President's office told The Morning that Dr. Kumaratunga has no plans to enter politics through any political party, and also, former President Kumaratunga has no plans to bring her son into politics either. Further noting that Kumaratunga attended the said event only as a guest, the official said that she has no connection with the affairs of the NLFP. Meanwhile, “independent” MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who is familiar with the NLFP, had told the media last week that although it is not possible to predict what would happen in the future, there have been no discussions to bring Dr. Kumaratunga into politics as of now. Last year, following a statement made by Welgama that plans were underway to bring to power an educated youth from a well-known family with a political background, under a broad political alliance, there were reports that Dr. Kumaratunga was this individual. However, Dr. Kumaratunga said at the time that he had no intention of entering politics, and that he would continue to work as a veterinarian and be committed to working on specialist training as a veterinary ophthalmologist in the UK. “I love my country of birth. I hope to raise awareness and to contribute, in my personal capacity, to the many causes in Sri Lanka that I hold dear. However, I would like to clearly state that I have no intention whatsoever of engaging in Sri Lankan politics. Therefore, I appeal to everyone to disregard any statement alleging my aspirations to become a politician,” he said at that time.


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