Sajith lost large Buddhist vote slot as well: Akila

Can one blame Cardinal Ranjith for the drop of UNP votes in Hambantota District by five percent?”

By Yohan Perera  

UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa lost a considerable amount of Buddhist votes at the last presidential elections as well, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariywasam said yesterday.   

Mr. Kariyawasam came out with this remark in response to a question raised by journalists at a news conference on the remark made by former Minister Harin Fernando that the Archbishop of Colombo played politics at the last election and in the process broke five percent of votes to UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa.  

“Can one blame Cardinal Ranjith for the drop of UNP votes in Hambantota District by five percent?” Mr. Kariyawasam asked.  

He added that some who shout for SJB lost some electorates by large majorities. “ Sajith lost by 55,000 votes in some electorates,” he said.