12 October 2019 06:02 am
The UNP led alliance will go ahead with its strategies to win the presidential election ignoring the results of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election, some MPs of the party said yesterday.
UNP MPs Hesha Vithanage, Chaminda Wijesiri, Ishaq Rahuman and State Minister Ajith Mannaperunma told a press conference that the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election has no significance at all towards the presidential election.
“Elpitiya is for SLPP as Colombo central is for the elephant,” Mr. Mannaperuma said.
Also, the MPs said UNP led alliance candidate Sajith Premadasa’s announcement that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka would be the defence minister if he is elected as the president was a welcome move at the time much emphasis is made on country’s security situation. “We have already appointed an able person in charge of the country’s security,” MP Wijesiri said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maharoof charged that false information is being passed on social media stating that Dr. Shafi who was at the centre of controversy over carrying forceful sterilisation surgeries on Sinhalese women was at Mr. Premadasa’s rally in Galle Face on Thursday. Mr. Maharoof said the report is going along with two photos one of which is of Dr. Shafi and the other his. “My photo and Dr Shafi’s photo is being published trying to show it was the same person. It was me who was at the stage and not Dr. Shafi,” he said. (Yohan Perera)