Sajith Premadasa, leader of Sri Lanka’s largest opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has withdrawn his candidacy in favour of Rajapaksa-ally Dullas Alahapperuma, from the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of President. @sjbsrilanka and our alliance and our opposition partners will work hard towards making @DullasOfficial victorious.
— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 19, 2022
The decision follows internal divisions within the SLPP as the party’s general secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, endorsed the acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, whilst the chairman, G.L. Peiris insisted that the party should support Alahapperuma.
Alahapperuma is a Sinhala Buddhist nationalist who has consistently stood opposed to international investigations into war crimes and to meeting Tamil demands for self-determination.
Read more on his record here: Dullas Alahapperuma - Another racist throws his hat in the ring to be Sri Lanka’s next president