SLFP defectors want Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM before Presidential Election

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The group of 16 MPs of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party convened a media briefing in Colombo, today (June 14). UPFA Parliamentarian Dilan Perera claimed Mahinda Rajapaksa is the most suitable candidate for the presidency but stated that they are unable to field him legally. He noted that as a result of this the group of 16 defectors are trying to make sure that they head into the Presidential election with Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister While noting that it was too early to tell who the next presidential candidate is, MP Dilan Perera, who remains a member of the SLFP led by President Maithripala Sirisena, stated that the next Presidential candidate should be chosen by Mahinda Rajapaksa and that they are ready to rally around any candidate chosen by him. Commenting on the UNP's Presidential candidate, Perera noted that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe would be the biggest obstacle faced by any UNP presidential candidate and that it applies to Ranil Wickremesinghe as well. MP Dilan Perera went onto to state that the group of 16 SLFP defectors are yet to set a date for an official meeting with Gotabaya Rajapaksa adding that will be meeting with other individuals who could run for the presidency including people like Basil Rajapaksa, Chamal Rajapaksa and Dinesh Gunawardena. Dilan noted that they are ready to meet with any party that is against the UNP.