Uncertainty surrounded participation by Sri Lanka’s opposition leaders in the “Mahajana Handa” (People’s Voice) protest rally on Friday (21), with some senior figures confirming their attendance while others have opted to stay away.
The rally, organised by a coalition led by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), is widely interpreted as a gauge of public support for Namal Rajapaksa’s potential presidential ambitions, though many opposition parties have downplayed this aspect.
Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), will stay away from the rally, with leader Sajith Premadasa saying he refuses to share the stage with politicians he described as corrupt.
Other parties, including Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF) and Patali Champika Ranawaka’s United Republican Front (URF), also announced they would not participate in the protestFormer UNP parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe said he would skip the rally, describing it as “an attempt to promote Namal Rajapaksa” and stressing that meaningful opposition work should focus on cooperation between the UNP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Participation by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was also uncertain as he is expected to attend a wedding in India, while other UNP members, including Navin Dissanayake have opted out.
SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena said he had not been invited and would remain absent due to ongoing court cases.
The Tamil party ITAK and TPP leader Mano Ganesan confirmed they would not join the protest, though Ganesan extended his support to the organisers.
The Sarvajana Balaya also announced its decision not to participate in the anti-government rally. Its leader, Dilith Jayaweera, said his movement would not take part in namesake alliances formed without meaningful discussion or consensus.
Meanwhile, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa confirmed he would attend, calling for the current government to be “toppled”.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila predicted a “massive” crowd, claiming the rally had already created significant political attention.
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