Ahead of Sept 21 presidential polls, Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe sacks 4 junior ministers

Sept. 5, 2024, 7:10 p.m.

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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday removed four junior ministers from his government in what is being interpreted as a crackdown on Rajapaksa supporters in the lead-up to the September 21 presidential elections.

A statement from the president’s office said that the decision was made under the authority granted to him by Article 47 (3) of the Constitution.

The ousted ministers are State Minister of Ports and Aviation Services Premalal Jayasekara, State Minister of Power and Energy Indika Anuruddha, State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, and State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath.

Advertisement The deposed ministers had announced their support for Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Namal Rajapaksa -the heir to the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty - who is vying to become the president.

The Rajapaksas withdrew their backing for Wickremesinghe, 75, who is running as an independent candidate despite being the head of the long-standing party, the United National Party.

The decision to sack the ministers came as a grand coalition – People’s United Freedom Alliance – was formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

It comprises over 25 political parties that joined forces to bolster Wickremesinghe's support in the presidential election.

Several ministers and politicians from the SLPP, who are backing Wickremesinghe, were also present at the party’s launch ceremony.

“We have established this alliance to participate in the parliamentary elections following the presidential election,” Gunawardena stated.

Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency to complete the term of ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, was appointed as a temporary president by a majority vote in parliament from the SLPP.

Young SLPP members, instrumental in Wickremesinghe's efforts to revive the nation's failing economy, pledged their support to the president in addressing the economic crisis.

The SLPP has pledged to take disciplinary action against the members for supporting Wickremesinghe over Rajapaksa’s candidacy.