(UTV|COLOMBO) – All the known hard-core Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim extremists have got onto one stage to support Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman pointed out yesterday.
Speaking at a media conference at the UNF Election Operations Room in Vauxhall Street, Colombo yesterday, the MP pointed out that Sinhala ultra-nationalists such as Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, and, former LTTE commanders ‘Karuna Amman’ and ‘Pillayan’ as well as former Eastern Province Governor M.L. A.M.Hisbullah, who is close to extremist groups, are all supporting the SLPP Candidate’s presidential bid.
He argued that Hisbullah’s intention in contesting the upcoming Presidential Election was to make inroads into the Muslim vote base of UNF Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa.
He requested the voters to understand the bigger picture behind the Gotabaya’s candidacy and roundly defeat the SLPP camp to safe guard genuine national unity and reconciliation. “All the individuals who spread hatred and mistrust between communities over the past few months have joined hands to support Rajapaksa. We question how Ven Rathana Thera, who fumed against Hisbullah’s controversial foreign links and who even held a fast against him, can get on to one stage with Hisbullah in support of Gotabaya,” he remarked.
“It is clear that this bunch of people fan communal flames to survive politically. Are you going to ruin the national unity by electing this group into power? UNF Presidential Candidate Premadasa aspires to unite all communities and build one Sri Lankan nation. Ensuring national unity is important at this election in order to ensure national security and economic development,” he added.
The MP pointed out that Presidential Candidate Hisbullah’s recent speeches indicate that he was indirectly asking his followers to vote for Rajapaksa. He however said Hisbullah’s vote base is limited to about 10,000-15,000 votes in the Kaththankudy electoral division and that he could not make much impact on Muslim votes as a whole.
“We request the Muslim people not to be carried away by Hisbullah’s petty statements. The Muslims have to merge with the mainstream politics and they cannot win anything by isolating themselves. We need to live in harmony with the Sinhalese in the South and Tamils in the North,” he argued.
Rahuman also expressed his doubts that Hisbullah might have been bribed by SLPP Frontline member Basil Rajapaksa to undertake a political contract in favour of Rajapaksa.
“Former MP Basil Rajapaksa must reveal the promises given to Pillayan, Karuna Amman and Hisbullah in order to get their support,” he added.
The MP further said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Lawyer Ali Sabry had admitted on his Facebook page that the saga accusing Kurunegala Hospital Dr Siyabdeen Safi was a drama enacted by the SLPP. (DN)
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