Namal Rajapaksha of the ‘Samabima Party’ will be contesting the presidential elections, which may confuse voters with another Namal Rajapaksha, who is contesting under the Lotus symbol.
Rajitha Senaratne, a frequent newsmaker known for his shifting political alliances, is now in Ranil Wickremesinghe’s camp. This is seen as a positive move for Wickremesinghe, as Rajitha is considered a seasoned politician with a knack for choosing the winning side. Rajitha has stated that he shares a close relationship with Sajith Premadasa and has never spoken against him.
State Minister Premalal Jayasekara, who recently joined Ranil Wickremesinghe, has made a U-turn, returning to the Lotus camp to support Namal Rajapaksha. Reports suggest that many who crossed over to Ranil’s camp are worried about their political future, fearing they might lose their seats like Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara, or miss out on opportunities to contest elections if the UNP denies them a ticket.
There are rumors that Minister Ramesh Pathirana has been tasked with forming a new party for those who crossed over to Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The well-known “Appachchi Mala” (Wijith Wijayamuni) has also aligned himself with Ranil Wickremesinghe.
What does this indicate? Is Ranil Wickremesinghe poised for victory, or are many simply seeking the safest haven available? Your guess is as good as ours!
