Those who hastily left the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to back Presidential candidates from other camps would gradually come back to the SLPP during the election campaign, SLPP MP Thissa Kuttiarachchi said.
“They are recognising the slim odds of retaining their positions as Members of Parliament under these candidates,” he said.
“Election periods in Sri Lanka are rife with trade-offs and political manoeuvering. It’s not uncommon to see factions within parties splintering off, only to later reconsider their decisions,” said Kuttiarachi.
He was responding to media inquiries at a press conference at the SLPP headquarters last week about the likelihood of the SLPP faction that defected to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe returning to back the newly appointed SLPP Presidential candidate, Namal Rajapaksa.
Kuttiarachchi said, “If there’s one lesson to be learned from Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa, it’s that political moves should not be made in haste. Those who crossed over to Wickremesinghe’s camp acted prematurely, even before the SLPP announced its candidate.”
Kuttiarachchi said that the defected SLPP members who are seen sitting alongside other candidates during the Presidential election campaign rallies make frequent visits to Wijerama at night to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He said that these defectors now find themselves in a precarious position, uncertain about the election’s outcome and the security of their parliamentary seats. This realisation is pushing them to rethink their strategies; with some likely to rejoin the SLPP as the election date draws near.
As the election campaigns progress, they are likely to realign with the SLPP.
