SLPP urges halt to mudslinging ahead of final day of campaigning

• Says GR created new political culture 
• Claims poster-free campaign helped reduce election violations 

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday invited all presidential candidates to conduct the last 24 hours of their political campaigns free of political mudslinging, and claimed they had stuck to ethical publicity during their own campaign. 

Speaking to media at the SLPP head office, spokesman MP Dullas Alahapperuma said they were able to successfully introduce a new political culture through their campaign, which he claimed has been free of plastic and political mudslinging. He noted the country needed a new political culture that meets expectations of modern voters. According to Alahapperuma, the SLPP presidential campaign had followed the standards developed countries had set in conducting their political campaigns. 

“Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced and conducted a political campaign that has changed the country’s political culture. He did not sling mud at any of his opponents. He only spoke about his policies and how he is going to implement them if he is elected,” Alahapperuma said. He argued the SLPP environmentally-friendly campaigns had influenced other candidates to move on from conventional election campaigns. Alahapperuma said their campaign raised awareness on climate change and how that would affect Sri Lanka. He pointed out that Rajapaksa had identified the importance of addressing the challenges of climate change, which has already affected several parts of the country. He noted if Rajapaksa was elected, he would take necessary measures to minimise the effects of climate change.

Referring to election posters, Alahapperuma said the party appreciates its supporters for carrying out campaigns without posters. He noted all of their grassroots-level supporters had respected their candidate’s policies, which, in his view, strengthened Rajapaksa’s campaign.

However, he charged the United National Party (UNP) was attempting to use social media websites to spread false information about Rajapaksa. He stressed such false information would not tarnish Rajapaksa’s reputation as the public are aware of his policies.