A group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarians have reportedly told Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that the recent actions of the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), Minister Wimal Weerawansa, have been detrimental to the policies of the government and have issued a warning that they will move to defeat the expenditure head of the Ministry of Industries if no action is taken against him, 'Anidda' reported.
According to the news report, 43 SLPP MPs who were elected to Parliament for the first time have called on the Prime Minister at Temple Trees on March 10.
The MPs have pointed out to the Prime Minister that Minister Wimal Weerawansa is criticizing the government with the intention of contesting the next presidential election.
At the meeting with the Premier, SLPP MP Prof. Ranjith Bandara played a few video recordings of the controversial statements made by Minister Weerawansa.
A SLPP MP who participated in the discussion has told 'Anidda' that the Prime Minister was infuriated after seeing some of the statements by Minister Wimal Weerawansa.
Wimal is a political rogue - SLPP MP says!
The question of 'who would represent the government as the 2024 presidential candidate - Wimal or Basil?,' has led to serious conflict within the government after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had declared to the leaders of the ruling coalition that he will not contest the next presidential election.
In this backdrop, certain parties within the government representing the Basil-Wimal factions are already engaged in a war of words regarding the next presidential candidate.
At a press briefing held at the SLPP headquarters yesterday (11), SLPP MP Sahan Pradeep called Wimal Weerawansa a political rogue.
"Minister Weerawansa made a statement about political rogues, but there are no rogues in the SLPP. The leaders of the SLPP care about the people and the environment. However, there may be such rogues who have become partners of the coalition led by the SLPP," he said.
He further said that Basil Rajapaksa will be the most suitable candidate to contest the next presidential election as he has the vision to bring all parties together and develop the country.
