A group of opposition members are expected to meet former President Mahinda
Rajapaksa and urge him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections
in the island country, an opposition member has told the
Xinhua news agency.
Rajapaksa and urge him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections
in the island country, an opposition member has told the
Xinhua news agency.
The recent move came after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, this week,
dared Rajapaksa to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, as the
opposition’s prime ministerial candidate and stated that Rajapaksa would
not contest at a future election. “I don’t think he will contest. I know him,”
Wickremesinghe said.
dared Rajapaksa to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, as the
opposition’s prime ministerial candidate and stated that Rajapaksa would
not contest at a future election. “I don’t think he will contest. I know him,”
Wickremesinghe said.
However Sri Lanka’s opposition member and former minister Vasudeva
Nanayakkara said that a group of opposition members will meet the former
president soon and urge him to contest the upcoming elections.
Nanayakkara said that a group of opposition members will meet the former
president soon and urge him to contest the upcoming elections.
“We will try our best to get Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest the elections.
We are confident he will win as there is a majority of people who want
him back to head the country,” Nanayakkara told.
We are confident he will win as there is a majority of people who want
him back to head the country,” Nanayakkara told.
In a massive rally held in a densely-populated suburb of Colombo last week,
in support of Rajapaksa, the former president in a letter to the supporters
hinted his return to politics by stating he could not ignore the hands of
honor and affection extended to him by the people and the leadership
forces of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party (SLFP).
in support of Rajapaksa, the former president in a letter to the supporters
hinted his return to politics by stating he could not ignore the hands of
honor and affection extended to him by the people and the leadership
forces of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party (SLFP).
The message read out to the applause of a large crowd said, “I would like to
emphasize that I cannot ignore the aspirations of the people who think about
the country and had dedicated themselves for the country,” he said.
emphasize that I cannot ignore the aspirations of the people who think about
the country and had dedicated themselves for the country,” he said.
“I would like to state again that I would embrace with honor and comradely the
hands of comradeship extended by the people and the leadership forces of the
UPFA led by the SLFP,” the message quoting Rajapakse read.
hands of comradeship extended by the people and the leadership forces of the
UPFA led by the SLFP,” the message quoting Rajapakse read.
Former ministers including Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and
Dinseh Gunewardena, together with several other opposition members
attended the rally and have been speaking in support of Rajapaksa since
his surprise defeat in last month’s presidential elections.
Dinseh Gunewardena, together with several other opposition members
attended the rally and have been speaking in support of Rajapaksa since
his surprise defeat in last month’s presidential elections.
