Joint appearance of SLFP foes

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 18:15 GMT]
Mr.Anura Bandaranaike, a senior minister and the brother of incumbent President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge appeared with Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister on the same platform Wednesday and declared that he would support Mr.Rajapakse in the coming Presidential election as the candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), sources in Colombo said. Both candidates have aspired for the SLFP Presidency and canvassed support separately till Tuesday.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse said the SLFP central working committee is to make an announcement Thursday regarding the SLFP candidate for presidential election.

Mr.Anura Bandaranaike said he has been supporting all progressive policies of Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse since 1970 and he would extend the same support to Mr.Rajapakse in the coming Presidential election, sources said.

Mr. Bandaranaike is to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the SLFP once Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is officially nominated as SLFP Presidential candidate, sources said.

Ms Kumaratunge is to officially announce the names of Mr. Rajapakse and Mr. Bandaranaike at the central working committee meeting summoned for Thursday, government sources said.

The new situation emerged after a three and half hour discussion held in the Presidential House attended by senior members of the SLFP with Ms Kumaratunge in the chair Tuesday, sources said.