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Basil Rajapaksa emphasises:
Work together for free and fair election
by Shanika Sriyananda
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Ven. Kamburugamuwe Vajira Nayake Thera ties a pirith nool on the
wrist of Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa at the
ceremony. Minister Dallus Alahapperuma and NFF leader Wimal
Weerawansa look on. |
UPFA Gampaha district leader and Senior Advisor for the President,
Basil Rajapaksa said his political campaign for the forthcoming
parliamentary polls would set an example as he plans to work closely
with the contesting Opposition politicians for a free and fair election.
Rajapaksa, who submitted his nomination to contest from the Gampaha
district, at a religious ceremony held at the President’s Secretariat
last Friday, said his political campaign would be a team effort. He said
he needed the support of all including the opposition to make Gampaha
the best district in the country.
“The people of Gampaha gave the highest mandate for President Mahinda
Rajapaksa and it is the responsibility of the Government and the
President to pay gratitude to them. I hope that is a main reason the
President selected me to lead the political campaign of the district”,
Basil Rajapaksa, who is President Rajapaksa’s younger brother, said.
He said the UPFA received a unique victory at the presidential polls
with over 718,700 people from Gampaha voting for the President. “I will
take the responsibility of developing the district to pay gratitude to
the people of Gampaha”, he said.
Rajapaksa said the UPFA Government introduced a new post-election
culture after the presidential election where non-violence was promoted.
He reiterated that the same culture would be followed in his election
campaign.
“All Opposition politicians that are contesting are my good friends
and I hope they will help me have a free and fair election on April 8.
What we need is to work towards a common goal - developing the
district”, he said.
He said he would draw up a plan for a development program according
to the resources of the district to develop the area on an economic as
well as environmental basis.
Twenty one candidates from the UPFA with its Deputy Leader of Gampaha
district, Minister Felix Perera have submitted nominations. Among others
are Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera, Pandu Bandaranayake, Lasantha
Alagiyawanna, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Dr. Mervyn Silva, Piyasiri
Wijenayaka, Sarana Gunawardena, Dulip Wijesekara, Anjan Umma, Neil
Rupasinghe and Upali Gunaratne.
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