President Mahinda Rajapaksa  has roped in Salman Khan and indulges in a spree of merry making  in the hope of  gaining power, Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena said in an election meeting held in Kinniya on Monday(29).


“Instead of inviting Salman Khan spending  Rs. 700 million, for a political carnival, I advise the President to desist engaging in cheap politics and to spend that huge sum of money on thousands of desperate people who are affected by the floods,” he said.


“The President is intoxicated by power and his behaviour during the past ten years has proved this. He is not bothered about the suffering of the people. He is asking for your votes to perpetuate his dynastic rule. He was elected by you, but he is not prepared to serve you. All the people in the country abhor his governance. The people have decided to chase him out on January 8th,” Mr.Maithripala said.


 He said, “On the pretext of development in the Eastern Province and other provinces, they have filled their pockets by amassing 60% of the funds and are enjoying a super luxury life. They have ruined the government service and the Police service. The armed forces are enslaved by Rajapaksa family. They have made the Parliament powerless. They have changed the cabinet into a nominal administrative body. They don’t heed the Opposition. They intimidated the traders and extorted money from them and politicians  have become corrupt.”


“The Quran stipulates how a ruler should rule his country! Even other religions say the same message about good governance. But there is no record of President Rajapaksa, following any one of them. After neglecting Samurdi beneficiaries, they are now searching for them. Do not be cheated. In a few days’time, they are  going to bring you wrist watches and sarees in containers. They belong to you, so you must receive them,” the opposition candidate said.


“I express my sympathies to the people of Kinniya who are affected by the floods. I am aware that land transport has become difficult in Kinniya because of the floods.My first development task would be the reconstruction of the Kurinchenkerni bridge and  Katchchakkodi bridge, damaged by the floods  using the most modern  technology,” he said.(Olumudeen Kiyas and A.M.Fareed)