September 7, 2024 — The much-anticipated presidential candidate debate organized by the March 12 Movement took an unexpected turn today when only one candidate, entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, appeared on stage. Despite prior confirmations from Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa, and P. Arianethran, Jayaweera was the sole participant in the debate, held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH).
The debate, set to start at 3:00 p.m. under the theme “How to Build the Country,” was delayed by 40 minutes in the hopes that the other candidates would arrive. However, when no one else showed up, Jayaweera took the stage alone to present his vision for Sri Lanka’s future.
In his speech, Jayaweera highlighted the significance of his presence and boldly asked for the people’s vote, stating, “There is a strategic program, and the one who represents it is here. His face, behavior, and program are different. He is so different that he has the strength to come to this kind of debate.”
Jayaweera’s solo appearance underscored his readiness and willingness to engage with the public, standing out in what should have been a multi-candidate discussion.
