Second term for Ranil: UNP thanks Kanchana’s backing

UNP MP Wajira Abeywardena yesterday (05) appreciated a public statement by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera that the majority of the government parliamentary group wanted incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe to seek another term.

The National List MP said so when The Island sought his response to the SLPP members’ declaration.

Appearing on Derana ‘360’ on Monday night, Minister Wijesekara threw his weight behind Wickremesinghe’s candidature at the next presidential election. The election is not scheduled till late next year as in terms of the Constitution, Wickremesinghe has to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term first.

Lawmaker Abeywardena said that Wickremesinghe had rescued the country and was in the process of making progress on the economic front. Therefore, it would the responsibility of all, especially those who caused the current economic crisis to back the UNP leader’s candidature, MP Abeywardena said.

Responding to another query, MP Abeywardena said that he was not surprised by Minister Wijesekera’s declaration. The former Minister expressed confidence that there would be unanimous backing for Wickremesinghe’s candidature and that he should be at the helm for a long time. (SF)