Also, Wickremesinghe has personally advised anti-Rajapaksa MPs in the government to refrain from criticising them until the conclusion of his talks with the SLPP leadership, he said on condition of anonymity.
SLPP to decide tomorrow
Meanwhile, the SLPP’s executive committee will meet at the official residence of party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa tomorrow (29) at 4.00 pm to decide what to do at the presidential polls.
According to political sources, this meeting will decide if the SLPP can remain undivided or will split further.
A majority of party MPs have already declared that they support the incumbent president, while others want a candidate of their own fielded.
Its 12 district leaders, 18 ministers and 30 MPs met separately last week and decided to support the president’s economic programme.
On Thursday, more than 30 SLPP MPs met their leader at the parliamentary complex and requested to follow suit.
They warned a division of the party if that does not happen.
Agreeing with them, Rajapaksa said he preferred the party not to field an own candidate.
He was met yesterday by the president’s chief of staff Sagala Ratnayake and minister Susil Premajayantha and was asked that a SLPP candidate be not fielded.
SLPP majority backs president
According to government sources, 112 SLPP MPs support the president.
Ninety of them are members of that party, while 22 contested from other affiliate parties or got nominated to parliament.
They are nine from the SLFP Nimal Siripala de Silva faction, five from the New Alliance, three from the MEP, two from the CWC and one each from the DLF, UPP and the MNP.
Eleven others – four from the SJB, two from the EPDP and one each from the TMVP, UPF, AIPC, UNP and NC – too, support him.
