Video: Maithri acted as predicted: Harin

15 July 2015 02:13 pm

While claiming that President Maithripala Sirisena acted in the manner the UNP believed, Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister Harin Fernando today said that they were certain of the President’s promise that he would not support former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the general elections.

 “Though we had some doubts, we repeatedly said the President would not support Mahinda Rajapaksa or get on the same stage with Rajapaksa. We are thankful for President Sirisena for keeping his promise,” Mr. Fernando said commenting on the speech made by the President on Tuesday.     

Addressing a news conference in Colombo, He said Rajapaksa supporters had kept high hopes and were almost certain that President Sirisena would support Rajapaksa.

“We said the Rajapaksa supporters had been excited over nothing. We warned their hopes will shatter eventually. The ‘Baiyo’ have been defeated today following the speech of President Sirisena,” he said.

The President in a special speech on Tuesday said he was against nominating Mr. Rajapaksa for the election and that he would neither back Rajapaksa nor appoint him as the Prime Minister. (Palitha Ariyawansha)