MR in the ring against RW?

9 February 2015 08:47 am

Four United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) allies today spoke in favour of fielding former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime ministerial candidate at the forthcoming general election so as to ensure its victory.


They said there was no other hope of defeating incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and that Mr. Rajapaksa had secured 5.8 million votes at the January presidential election.


“This is not a battle against President Maithripala Sirisena but a move against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was appointed outside constitutional procedures,” Democratic Left Front (DLF) Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara told a news conference held in Colombo.


The others who spoke in favour of such a move were Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader Dinesh Gunawardena, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila.


Mr. Nananyakkara said they were against the national unity government concept and were keen to set up a UPFA government to make the country self-sufficient. (Lahiru Pothmulla)