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My brother is certainly a contender: MR

12 September 2018 10:56 am - 30     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is in India has said his brother is certainly a contender for presidential poll in 2019 but the SLPP and the coalition will have to decide who the people want.

In an interview with the Hindu, Mr. Rajapaksa said his son Namal Rajapaksa can’t be a presidential candidate since the government has now raised the minimum age to 35 years instead of 30.

“So Namal can’t be considered in 2019. My brother is certainly a contender, but the party and the coalition will have to decide who the people want,” he said upon asking whether the next presidential candidate of SLPP will be a member of the Rajapaksa family or someone outside of it.

When asked who would lead the SLPP into elections in 2019, Mr.Rajapaksa said he would lead the party.

“There is a view that despite the Amendment I can fight elections and then fight it out in court. But I still have to decide whether to take that risk. Another option is to announce a candidate acceptable to all,” he said.

When asked about his opinion on whether the LTTE cadres who were convicted for Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination should be released, he said he has no view on the matter.

“It is up to the Indian government, it is an internal matter for India. If this was in Sri Lanka we would have taken a different line. But how can I say anything when the issue is in India?,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said India and his political camp had a lot of misunderstandings just before and after the elections in 2015.

“Now of course, I think it is about time to move on. However, no one should meddle with somebody else’s elections. It is an internal matter of a country whom the people decide to bring to power. I think now they all have understood what went wrong at that time and what they did. So we need to forget about the past. This is the time to move forward and look forward,” he said.

Commenting on the allegations that he had accepted campaign funds from Chinese companies, Mr. Rajapaksa said China did not fund him.

“This is what people talk about because this government has nothing else to accuse us of. When they came to power, they were looking for my $18 billion, but they are still looking for it (laughs)… despite the help of the US and other countries. They haven’t even found a dollar,” he said.

He also said Sri Lanka could have settled the loans his government obtained but the Sirisena government has messed things up.

“For the Colombo Port City, we didn’t have to pay anything, it was a contract sharing arrangement, where they got a share of the land they developed. At the time of the Hambantota port deal, our debt from China was less than our debt from the US and other countries and debt-to-GDP ratio was under control. So if the problem has grown now, and the government has not managed it, then how can you blame us?,” he said.


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  Comments - 30

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  • Amdan Wednesday, 12 September 2018 11:18 AM

    The American Citizen cannot even contest as per the constitution.

    Real Peace Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:05 PM

    Why only the brother? All MY brothers, cousins, wife, in-laws and all MY family members who looted this country are contenders to loot the country again. Go to hell

    Preethi Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:19 PM

    Most probably you would be in hell if not for him. That’s only if u live in SL.

    lakshitha Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:37 PM

    well said real peace

    Subash Wednesday, 12 September 2018 11:33 AM

    Mind you this guy got many brothers!!

    Warra Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:10 PM

    Your brother is certainly a hora like you!

    Dallas Wednesday, 12 September 2018 03:17 PM

    What is ur answer if I call u a murderer

    SLA Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:15 PM

    Your family destroyed the SriLankan airline in style.

    Bhav Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:38 PM

    which of your brother?

    Dee Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:41 PM

    So have you selected the positions of your family members already?

    max Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:41 PM

    Do hope, it will be none other than Gota - the master craftsman in winning the war as well as modernizing - at least to a certain level - the city of Colombo.

    zeela Wednesday, 12 September 2018 02:48 PM

    The master dictator and the creator of white van culture. You want bunch of thugs to rule the country again? you must have been dead during the previous regime not to know anything or you are complete idiot.

    Johny Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:47 PM

    Which brother? the Hora or the killer?

    Casanova Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:15 PM

    Common Johny, pls don't insult his brothers that way and differentiate them, they all are equal and capable of doing everything, only issue is that certain things never come to the surface.

    Dallas Wednesday, 12 September 2018 03:20 PM

    Do not insult people, objective

    Kumara Wednesday, 12 September 2018 12:59 PM

    The remaining Tamils and Muslims (Burma) get ready for your demise in SL, If the war criminal suspect become President!

    Lord Pakyam Friday, 14 September 2018 05:20 PM

    It seems India has realised their mistake in 2005 and now know the winning horse in Sri Lanka aka MR or a nominee.

    Gune Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:08 PM

    Blame game goes on but the people suffer. All politicians get rich but people get poor and poorer.

    Gamaya Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:10 PM

    The audacity of this fellow to even imply that Namal the pup who has neither head or heart could have run for presidency if not for the age factor - They seem to think that Sri Lanka is the backyard of Medamuluna.

    Mandayan Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:17 PM

    Have you consulted Sumana Aiya?

    Dhammika Wednesday, 12 September 2018 01:26 PM

    This country DOES NOT BELONG to MR and your family .

    alex Wednesday, 12 September 2018 02:18 PM

    if it was within is powers MR would have changed the age limit to 30 so that namal baba can be the next ruler

    Sam Wednesday, 12 September 2018 02:46 PM

    Please everyone do everything in your power to prevent this looney and his family coming back to rule. If you love this country vote for anyone but them.

    Rajiv Wednesday, 12 September 2018 02:53 PM

    We had enough of the Rajapakses. Why not allow others in your party to loot us again. You and your family too can join them to loot. MR thinks we all Srilankans are punch of idiots and he is the only seasoned politician.

    Anonymous Wednesday, 12 September 2018 03:42 PM

    So this is why you went to India!?

    vt Wednesday, 12 September 2018 03:54 PM

    He still thinks all his dreams can become true

    praneetha574 Wednesday, 12 September 2018 06:40 PM

    If i were this media man, i would ask him which brother . Brainless mediaman

    Roshan Wednesday, 12 September 2018 07:17 PM

    20 million population.. If we cant find atleast 100 contenders for President... Then what the hell have the leaders been doing..

    K Perera Wednesday, 12 September 2018 09:44 PM

    which brother? your cleanest brother has passed away.

    sri lankan Friday, 14 September 2018 07:34 PM

    What do you guys think this 'Yahapalane' is doing any thing perfect to this country?....for me, nothing seems to be going well so far.......


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