Sinister move to get Tamils boycott poll: Champika

14 December 2014 03:59 pm

There was a sinister move by some local and international forces to change the mindset of the Tamil community in order to get them boycott the January Presidential election, Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka charged today.

Mr. Ranawaka charged that this was to be done by a campaign aimed at making the Tamil community understand that this election was not relevant to them as it would not bring solutions to the issues faced by them.

This, the former Minister said, was wrong as this election was relevant to everyone in the country as it was all about bringing political and social change.

He was responding to a question raised by journalists as to whether there was contradiction on the MoUs singed by the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena with the JHU and other parties.

He said the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa did the same thing in 2005 as the MoU signed with JVP said he would abolish the Executive Presidency, while the MoU with JHU said he would reform it.

“Reforming or abolishing does not matter as powers of the Executive President enjoy as of now would be removed if the common opposition candidate emerge victorious at the presidential election,” he said.