Sirisena may stay out of Presidential race

Mahinda Rajapaksa to announce SLPP nominee at August 11 convention

President Maithripala Sirisena, in a new turn of events, may decide not to contest this year’s presidential election and, instead, support the opposition candidate.

This is said to be the rationale behind his remarks to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Women’s Front on Wednesday that there would be an “honourable decision which will not cause injustice or embarrassment to the party or its supporters” over the presidential poll. He ruled out the likelihood of a “three- cornered” fight by key contenders.

Complementing his remarks was a decision by senior stalwarts of opposition parties on Thursday to mandate their leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to decide to invite whoever wants to support them to win the presidential election.

These developments come amidst back- channel contacts between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP). Though their talks scheduled for last Monday were re- scheduled for June 25, the two sides have inched forward to make some progress.

At the next round, they will discuss the common alliance's new draft constitution formulated by the SLFP's

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deputy leader Nimal Siripala de Silva. The two sides are to name members to a committee to finalise the text before they get down to other issues. This will include electoral arrangements and even a post- election role for Mr. Sirisena.

Another significant development in this regard is the SLPP's national convention that will be held on August 11 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Mahinda Rajapaksa will take over as leader of the party and also officially announce the party’s presidential candidate.