Basil will not resign Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa in a sudden move, has decided not to resign his seat in Parliament, informed political sources told The Nation yesterday.
Reports earlier said that Rajapaksa had decided to resign from Parliament in order to devote his full time to organising President Mahinda Rrajapaksa’s campaign at the upcoming Presidential election. According to reports Hemal Gunasekera who topped the UPFA’s preferential vote list in Matara was tipped to succeed Rajapaksa as a Member of Parliament. Rajapaksa himself on Thursday reportedly confirmed that he was planning to resign his seat in Parliament as he would be under too much pressure of work as the chief organiser of the President Rajapaksa’s election campaign for him to continue as an MP. Addressing reporters at the Noritake Porcelain factory at Rattota in Matale, Rajapaksa had also said that he would be making a statement on his move to resign when Parliament meets on October 20.
“It is true that the Senior Presidential Advisor is having second thought about resigning. His close friends and associates have pointed out to him that there is no need for him to resign his seat in Parliament. Besides, time is not opportune for such a move,” an informed source said.
News that Rajapaksa was planning to resign his Parliamentary seat to organise his brother’s election campaign came as no surprise to many as everyone expected him to play a major role in ensuring the UPFA’s victory at both President poll and the Parliamentary General elections which are round the corner. “Rajapaksa has already proved his mettle as a capable political strategist and an election campaigner. And naturally everyone would expect him to be at the helm of the party’s propaganda and organisational machinery come a national election,” the source added.
Reports earlier said that Rajapaksa had decided to resign from Parliament in order to devote his full time to organising President Mahinda Rrajapaksa’s campaign at the upcoming Presidential election. According to reports Hemal Gunasekera who topped the UPFA’s preferential vote list in Matara was tipped to succeed Rajapaksa as a Member of Parliament. Rajapaksa himself on Thursday reportedly confirmed that he was planning to resign his seat in Parliament as he would be under too much pressure of work as the chief organiser of the President Rajapaksa’s election campaign for him to continue as an MP. Addressing reporters at the Noritake Porcelain factory at Rattota in Matale, Rajapaksa had also said that he would be making a statement on his move to resign when Parliament meets on October 20.
“It is true that the Senior Presidential Advisor is having second thought about resigning. His close friends and associates have pointed out to him that there is no need for him to resign his seat in Parliament. Besides, time is not opportune for such a move,” an informed source said.
News that Rajapaksa was planning to resign his Parliamentary seat to organise his brother’s election campaign came as no surprise to many as everyone expected him to play a major role in ensuring the UPFA’s victory at both President poll and the Parliamentary General elections which are round the corner. “Rajapaksa has already proved his mettle as a capable political strategist and an election campaigner. And naturally everyone would expect him to be at the helm of the party’s propaganda and organisational machinery come a national election,” the source added.
