“Does he have a symbol to use?”:

PM challenges Rajapaksa to stand for election

by Shiromi Abeyasinghe reporting from Wennappuva

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday lashed out at former President Mahinda Rajapksa and his allies who organized last week’s mass rally in Nugegoda describing the allies as the Nugegoda kalliya (Nugegoda gang). The UNP Leader also repeated his threat made earlier to dissolve Parliament.

“Rather than shout in Nugegoda why don’t you walk the two miles and speak in Parliament?” Mr. Wickremesinghe asked.

Challenging the former President to stand for election to Parliament, the Premier declared that “We will reduce your vote by 50 lakhs”.

“The UPFA is supporting the Government’s 100 Day Programme, but there are some inside the UPFA who are shouting. I call them the Nugegoda kalliya (gang),’ he said.

This gang, he said, were asking the former President to stand as Prime Ministerial candidate. Mr. Wickremesinghe wanted to know which election symbol Mr. Rajapaksa would use since President Maithripala Sirisena will not let the SLFP support Mr. Rajapaksa. Mr. Wickremesinghe pointed out that he, as part of the national unity alliance, had won 64 lakhs of votes.

In 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa had won because he had benefitted from the voter boycott enforced by the LTTE, he charged.