Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s son
Vimukthi Kumaratunga is likely to contest the forthcoming parliamentary
election from the district of Gampaha sources say.
“But he will not be given the district leadership
as speculated by some,” a senior spokesman of the party who is
supportive of the former President said.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page has been created by a
group supporting the Kumaratungas today, dubbing Vimukthi Kumaratunga as
a ‘politician’. However, it is still not clear whether this Facebook
page is an official social media profile representing Kumaratunga.
With Vimukthi Kumaratunga being positioned as a
potential candidate, one has every reason to believe that former
President Kumaratunga may not contest the forthcoming Parliamentary
election.
As there are two schools of
thought in the SLFP on the would be electorate of Vimukthi Kumaratunga.
His father Vijaya Kumaratunga, when he played an active role in politics
during the 80s, had a strong support base in coastal electorates of the
Gampaha district such as Ja-ela, Katana.
Kumaratunga also contested the
interim election of the Mahara polling division which he lost with a
thing margin amidst heavy violence unleashed by the then UNP government.
Meanwhile, Attanagalla, the traditional ‘seat’ of
the Bandaranaikes, is another viable option for Vimukthi Kumaratunga at
this point. But, President Maithripala Sirisena, despite being backed by
former President Kumaratunga, was not able to secure a majority from
the Atanagalla electorate at the recently held Presidential election.
However, this may not apply when Vimukthi Kumaratunga contests under the
SLFP ticket.
Kumaratunga, who initially said he did not wish to
enter active politics, received his higher education in the United
Kingdom. He has also earned some reputation in Sri Lanka as an animal
rights activist.
