Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa would officially take over its leadership at the convention scheduled to be conducted on August 11, and afterwards, he would announce the presidential candidate.
Addressing a press conference, its chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that Mr. Rajapaksa would consider the ability to ensure discipline, credibility, security, effective governance and identity and sovereignty of the country in the nomination of the presidential candidate.
“These are the criteria that govern the mind of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa in nominating the presidential candidate,” he said.
He said the presidential candidate, once nominated, would appeal to the entire country as one community. He said national security was a matter concerning all the communities including the minorities.
Commenting on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), he said though devolution of power was its key demand, the TNA voted with the government in Parliament to postpone the provincial council elections.
