Leading contenders for the upcoming Presidential election, the Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB) and the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (NPP) have hit a stalemate in their push for a public debate on the economy leaving the whole electorate wondering what would be in store for them should either party win the October poll.
The SJB initially challenged the NPP to a public debate on the economy, but the latter fired back saying they would face the forum only if Sajith Premadasa the leader of the former joins the fray.
“We will face the challenge only if Sajith Premadasa enters the fray to take on our own leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake,” said the NPP’s Sunil Handunnetti.
But an infuriated SJB hit back claiming the NPP was chickening out by dragging in the two respective leaders to a debate which they mooted to be contested only by Party members.
“We are the ones, myself, Eran Wickremaratne and Kabir Hashim that called members of the NPP for a debate. We did not say Sajith Premadasa will be at the debate or that Anura Kumara Dissanayake should also be there”, said the SJB’s Harsha de Silva.
But Premadasa addressing voters at a public meeting elsewhere said he is prepared for a public debate on the economic state of the country.
Political analysts say the Debate is likely to die a natural death.
