Hirunika says Ranjan’s release to attract certain political groups

The objective behind the expected release of former actor-turned parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake may be to attract certain political groups, former Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP (SJB) Hirunika Premachnadra said today.

While speaking to journalists, Ms. Premachandra said that the release of Mr. Ramanayake was a tactic by the Acting President to attract a target political group. “We saw the acting President visiting the soldiers who were injured in clashes with the protesters. We never saw him visiting the injured soldiers in the past. The objective of this would have been to build up his image. Promising to release Mr, Ramanayake could also be an exercise to build his image,” she said.

Asked whether the release of Ranjan Ramanayake could be a political deal, the former MP said it is not clear as the latter is a person who dislikes deals. “However I feel that Mr. Ramanayake will come out as an Aragalist’ she said at the same time.

“We keep mum if people accept Mr. Wickremesinghe as the President in the event he is elected, but will fight on if people do not endorse it. At the same time election of Mr. Wickremesinghe as the President could create a bloodbath if criticism against him escalates,” she said.