Is Kanchana Wijesekera the Next SLPP Leader? No, the Viral Claim Is False

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With SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa in remand, speculation about who might lead the party was easy to stir up. Posts on Facebook claimed that former Minister Kanchana Wijesekera would become the next SLPP leader, and that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed him for the role. Here are the posts that carried the claim.

Social Media Posts:

Facebook | Archived Link

Several other posts carried the same claim.

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We fact-checked the claim.

Fact Check:

Wijesekera Is Not an Active SLPP Member

Kanchana Wijesekera supported Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last presidential election and later worked under the New Democratic Front. He is not currently active in the SLPP.

SLPP Leadership Still Centres on Namal Rajapaksa

Namal Rajapaksa was remanded over financial fraud charges, but he remains the SLPP National Organiser. At a press briefing on October 5, SLPP Media Spokesman Sanjeewa Edirimanna said: “The SLPP has no ‘Plan B’. Although Namal Rajapaksa is physically absent, his leadership and agenda are active. Our primary goal is to make Namal Rajapaksa the country’s leader in or before the 2029 presidential election.” More details here and here.

No Credible Source Confirms the Claim

We found no reliable source confirming that Wijesekera would become the next SLPP leader or deputy leader. We then contacted the parties concerned.

SLPP Rejects Any Plan to Install Wijesekera

SLPP Media Spokesman Sanjeewa Edirimanna told us the claim was completely false and that the party had made no such preparations.

Wickremesinghe’s Media Unit Denies the Proposal

The posts said Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed Wijesekera, so we contacted the former President’s office. His media unit confirmed that the claim was completely false.

UNP Says It Has No Say in Another Party’s Leadership

The United National Party (UNP) media unit also confirmed that the claim was completely false. It noted that a UNP member could not make decisions on another party’s affairs.

Wijesekera’s Office Has Not Yet Responded

We tried to reach Wijesekera’s media coordinator, but we could not make contact. We will update this article if a response arrives.

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Conclusion:

The claim that former Minister Kanchana Wijesekera would become the next SLPP leader, in Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal, is false. SLPP Media Spokesman Sanjeewa Edirimanna, the media unit of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP media unit all rejected it.

Wijesekera is not an active SLPP member, and no credible source confirmed that he would lead or deputise the party. The SLPP said its aim remained to make Namal Rajapaksa the country’s leader.