Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that has brought thousands of people to the streets since March. The country has run out of cash and is struggling to import essential items like food, fuel and medicine.
President Rajapaksa announced he plans to resign this week, and the parliament speaker has said lawmakers would choose the next president on July 20.
Mr Premadasa said that his party and allies agreed he should be “putting my nomination for the position of the presidency if a vacancy occurs”.
He lost the presidential election in 2019 and will need the support of coalition lawmakers to win. He is banking on achieving this in the face of popular discontent against Mr Rajapaksa and his family, who have dominated Sri Lankan politics for over two decades.
The country’s inflation rate reached 55% in June, and millions struggle to make a living. Mr Premadasa said he was ready to participate in an all-party interim government.
The SJB leader was criticized for refusing to take up the post when he was offered the prime minister’s position in April. His rival Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed – but he has also indicated that he would resign to make way for a unity government.
Mr Premadasa described the current situation in Sri Lanka as “confused, uncertainty and total anarchy”, saying it needs “consensus, consultation, compromise and coming togetherness.”
According to local media reports, the country’s usable reserves have fallen to around $250m (£210m).
A severe fuel shortage has ravaged public transport. Rolling power cuts are occurring because power plants lack sufficient fuel to function. Schools are also closed this week due to the fuel crisis. Many people are trying to leave the country.
Mr Premadasa has acknowledged that there are no quick solutions. He said it would take around four to five years to bring the economy back to 2019 levels, adding that his party has an economic plan to tide over the crisis.
“We are not going to hoodwink the people. To be frank and present a plan to eliminate Sri Lanka’s economic ills,” Mr Premadasa said.
But the protesters at the Galle Face site in Colombo say that all 225 members of parliament are responsible for the current situation, and they want a new beginning with fresh and energetic people in politics.