In an attempt to stage a comeback after suffering a surprise defeat six months ago, former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday announced that he would contest in the parliamentary polls.
Addressing a gathering at his residence in Medamulana in Hambantota of the Southern Province, Mr Rajapaksa said he had “no right” to reject the demand of his followers [to contest in the elections]. “We should face the elections,” he pointed out.
However, the 69-year-old Mr. Rajapaksa, who lost in the Presidential election in January this year to his former colleague and the common Opposition candidate, Maithripala Sirisena, did not say under which party or coalition he would contest.
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When Mr. Rajapaksa made the announcement, leaders of other constituents of the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) such as Dinesh Gunawardena of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and Wimal Weerawansa of the National Freedom Front (NFF) were present.
His announcement came a day after the office of Mr. Sirisena, who is also the chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), denied reports in sections of the press that the President had agreed to nominate Mr. Rajapaksa as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister. It added that no one from the SLFP had been named as such and the appointment of the Prime Minister would be made on the basis of views of Members of Parliament, in the event of the UPFA winning a majority.
In recent weeks, there were attempts to bring Mr. Rajapaksa and Mr. Sirisena together and there is no clarity as yet whether the patch up would take place in view of reports that sections of the SLFP are opposed to rapprochement with the former President.
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Manusha Nanayakkara, one of the spokespersons of the Rajapaksa camp in the SLFP, said the former President would contest under the banner of the SLFP. Agreeing with him, Dilan Perera, spokesperson of the party, said that Mr. Rajapaksa did not mention that he would be the nominee for PM in deference to the statement issued by the President’s office.
In his speech, Mr. Rajapaksa also called upon all "patriotic groups" in all political parties, including the United National Party (UNP) led by his arch rival and Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to join hands with him to take the country forward. He also asserted that he did not do anything against the Constitution of the country.
He pulled up the present government for, what he called, having suspended the execution of infrastructure projects and allowed the country’s economy to deteriorate.