The appointment of MP Namal Rajapaksa as the National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at its recent Hambantota Convention has stirred a hornet’s nest in political circles, with some politicians suggesting that the young Rajapaksa could potentially be a candidate at the 2024 Presidential Elections. We sought the views of MP Namal Rajapaksa and several others on this issue.
No one should panic and declare “Count me out if that one comes in” – Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Sanjeeva Edirimana
Q: Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says he will withdraw support if Namal runs for President. Your comment?
A: First things first; we have not made a decision to make MP Namal Rajapaksa our next Presidential Candidate. This has not been announced. No one should panic and declare “Count me out if that one or this one comes in”. Worrying that way is like poking yourself in the eye. We should not view politics so simply. We need to read politics a little deeper. Those who said they won’t even show up if Gotabaya Rajapaksa runs for President ultimately ended on the main battle stage to make him President.
Q: What is the next political event for the SLPP which started with the theme: “Let’s start the fight in Hambantota”?
A: Every political movement in this country has questioned us about what we are doing to revive our party. We are preparing for the next political opportunity. Namal Rajapaksa becoming National Organiser is part of that preparation. We have already started a cohesive political program.
Q: Even though the SLPP spoke about a broad alliance, the breakaway groups gathered around other parties, didn’t they?
A: We will face the next election with a broad coalition. Alliances have been formed in this country since 1948.
The widest collections were made by our political camp. Therefore, we say that we will form the broadest alliance with the highest representation in the next election as well.
Basil Rajapaksa has more experience – Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga
Q: Are you saying you will not support if MP Namal Rajapaksa runs for President?
A: I said so publicly and it was my personal opinion. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also said that Namal still has time. There is an opinion that we have failed even after winning 6.9 million votes. Right or wrong, such a notion has already been formed. Maybe there were mistakes in the decisions we made. When the same group of MPs sat down and looked at the situation in May 2022, there has been a big change in the country.
Q: MP Namal Rajapaksa has been appointed as the SLPP’s National Organiser. How do you see this as an SLPP stalwart?
A: Giving a chance to a young person is a good step taken by the party. But I don’t know whether it is good or bad for MP Namal Rajapaksa’s future. From the party’s side, I say that it would be better if the experienced Basil Rajapaksa was there. This appointment is a good experience for the party. There will be a chance to think in a new way and do something new.
Q: Some people say that it is not appropriate to appoint a young person when there are experienced people?
A: At that time, when I was asked to submit a proposal, only his name was suggested. No one else’s name was suggested. He was elected unopposed. If there was someone to protest, they could have made a statement that they did not like it. No one had any opposition.
Q: Are you saying that you will not support Ranil Wickremesinghe if he contests the Presidential Election under the elephant symbol?
A: We worked against Ranil Wickremesinghe in many elections. If our party members can come up with a common symbol rather than voting for the elephant, we can consider the election. Instead of entering a party symbol, make a new symbol and find a solution to the national issues. I propose that he should come as a common candidate.
Q: Is there any hope of joining UNP?
A: I don’t hope to join the UNP like that. If I am to join the UNP, I have to support the current UNP President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, if he decides to run for President. I am thinking about the citizens of the country at this time.
We are not ready to support Namal – Sri Lanka Communist Party MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe
Q: SLPP MP Prasanna Ranatunga says that he will not support if Namal Rajapaksa becomes the presidential candidate. What is your comment?
A: We also had to leave because of the activities of the Rajapaksas. If Namal Rajapaksa or any other candidate from the Pohottuwa comes forward, we will not support in any way.
Q: As a party, which party do you plan to support in the Presidential Election?
A: We are discussing the nomination of a suitable candidate for the Presidential Election. A final decision has not been taken regarding the candidate to be presented. We do not really know about the current candidates. They are talking about a lot here. There are so many candidates that pop out when you kick a bush these days. But we have not come to a final decision. We are not aware of such arrangements. Therefore, we are working on an arrangement that we can all agree on. So we are discussing to present a candidate with the general program that goes within our set of policies.
Q: Are you saying you will not support MP Namal Rajapaska if he enters the Presidential race?
A: The Sri Lanka Communist Party and the Uttar Lanka Coalition are not ready to support a leadership like Namal Rajapaksa at the moment.
Q: Are you saying that the people do not accept the currently known Presidential candidates?
A: We think President Ranil Wickremesinghe will get the support of the SLPP. We do not see a clear difference in the policies between those two parties – the SLPP and the UNP. We do not support the Sajith Premadasa-led party and their economic program. Talking about the NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake, they say that they can join their group but will not form alliances. We have identified the basic problems of this country. We need someone who can find solutions to them.
Q: So what is the future direction of the Communist Party?
A: Our political journey continues. We are working to change the repressive and anti-populist course of the current Government. We are also working to prevent the process of selling Government property to various entities. We are on that journey.
Politics is always a challenge – SLPP National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa
Q: SLPP MP Prasanna Ranatunga says that he will not support you if you become the SLPP Presidential Candidate. What is your comment?
A: That is his personal opinion. I respect that. I always stand by the decisions taken by the party. If the party nominates a candidate, we will help that candidate unconditionally, because a candidate is fielded with some consensus. It is the personal opinion of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. We need to respect that.
Q: You have been appointed as the national organiser of the SLPP. How are things going?
A: We must stick to one path. That means, by understanding the political needs of the new generation and the needs of the country, our party will be transformed into a political party that can and should build a young political force in the future. Also, we are moving forward with a modernised program for protecting the national economic policies presented in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahinda Chinthanaya that we trusted in. In the future, we expect to implement a door-to-door program to organise seats and to strengthen the party’s network of affiliated organisations. Through that, we are working to move forward as a party.
Q: What if some people don’t approve of your appointment to such a position when there are senior members in the party?
A: The general nature is that when a certain organiser is appointed to a position, there is opposition from a certain section. This is not just in politics; it is common to all areas of the private sector, business sector or the Government sector. We need to gather all these people and take the advice of the seniors, gain experience from those who have experience in the political field and manage those things and move forward. Especially in the coming period, we will personally meet the senior leaders associated with the party to get their opinions and advice and inform them about our program.
Q: The youth are facing huge issues. As a politician representing the youth, what do you hope to do?
A: In this country, with a digital economy, i.e. a modern economy, the services provided to the people by Government services should be integrated within the digital system. Also, new entrepreneurs should emerge for new economic trends. There are many traditional entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs who have embraced new technology.
