Ready to lead the party, says Sajith Premadasa who is tipped to replace Wickremesinghe
Sajith Premadasa with his supporters
BY Ashwin Hemmathgamma & Karan Singh
WION spoke to Sajith Premadasa, a working committee member and deputy leader of the United National Party (UNP) on the Sri Lanka state of affairs. He is tipped to be the "compromise" candidate to replace Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Post the massive rally by the Wickremesinghe led UNP on Thursday afternoon, Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had a marathon closed-door meeting with UNP leaders and other independent parties who can tilt scales includingTamil National Alliance (TNS) which has 14 MPs and Janatha Vimukti Perumana (JVP) which has 6 MPs. Sirisena is understood to have agreed to a fresh no-confidence motion subject to Wickremesinghe being replaced.
It may be recalled that in the "Jana Mahimaya" rally where the Lankan president shared the dais with Mahinda Rajapaksa and his supporters on November 5, he had revealed that he had actually approached Premadasa with prime ministership offer after speaker Jayasuriya declined. And that Rajapaksa was his third option.
WION: What is your take on the current constitutional crisis caused by the removal of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe?
Sajith Premadasa: I think several consecutive irregular steps and actions have resulted in this constitutional crisis, which I consider to be a grave crisis. This has created political deadlock or governmental gridlock in our country. It is my opinion that all sane-minded political leaders of our country will strive to ensure that the constitution is protected and procedures and declarations stated in the constitution are followed in resolving this extreme crisis.
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WION: What are your thoughts on your meeting with Sirisena?
Sajith Premadasa: I don't foresee any problem. I think it is important that the priority issue is given proper credence and due attention.
WION: Your name was proposed many times to take over the party in the past two decades. Are you willing to take over the prime ministership if necessary today?
Sajith Premadasa: I have always mentioned that I am ready to take any task or responsibility that I am bestowed with, but these tasks and responsibilities have to be allocated to me in the proper manner following credible political guidelines and democracy. Just because people ask me to take positions I will not do so.