SB Dissanayake and several others to support Gotabaya Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News 1st) -  Treasurer of the SLFP, S. B. Dissanayake stated that a group of SLFPers including himself will support the presidential candidate of the Podu Jana Peramuna Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He noted that in the previous provincial council elections SLPP obtained 5 million votes while the SLFP obtained 1.4 million votes. He added that the UNP only obtained 3.4 million votes. He went on to note that therefore the SLPP is not a party to be trifled with. He stated that the SLPP is a strong, well-organized party with massive influence over digital platforms. He noted that Basil Rajapaksa himself claimed that the SLPP is only 2nd to the China Congress party in the entire Asian region. He added that with a magnitude of this influence SLPP has the right to nominate a presidential candidate for the leftist front. He added that before the formal nomination of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena had a 2-hour long discussion and they both stated that it ended up favourable for everyone. He confidently added that MP Sarath Amunugama and Dilan Perera's decision were right on time and assured that they will join forces with the anti-UNP alliance to ensure victory. Meanwhile, National Organizer of the SLFP MP Duminda Dissanayaka said the stance of SLFP in the upcoming presidential election is a critical factor. He made this statement while participating in a party meeting in Anuradhapura. He confidently stated that SLFP is essential for SLPP in order to get their candidate get elected. He added that same amount of votes (5 million) would not be enough to get their candidate elected and the SLPP will be 1.5 million votes short. He added that this is where the SLFP would come in as they possess 1.5mn votes at their disposal. He went on to note that although discussions between former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena are to continue they would make their decision. He elaborated that they would never dissolve SLFP to SLPP as it would render SLFPers helpless in the aftermath of the election.