Kandy rally promotes MR as PM candidate

Saturday, 7 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reconciliation Task Force members met President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday at the President’s office. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga was also present at the occasion - Pic by Chandana Perera The controversial Kandy rally to promote former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming general election was held yesterday with a lower turnout than the Nugegoda rally. The Kandy rally was organised by several coalition parties of the UPFA, notably parliamentarians Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila. Apart from them it was reported that parliamentarians Dilum Amunugama and Tissa Karaliyadda were present amongst the participants at the rally and that around 60 provincial council members and many local council members took part at the event. MP Wimal Weerawansa, addressing the gathering, said that even when the Government tried to tarnish the image of Mahinda Rajapaksa he faced such attacks bravely and won more popularity amongst the people. “The Government is trying to destroy the people’s love and respect for Mahinda Rajapaksa. There is even a possibility of them trying to put him in jail or rob him of his civic rights. Nevertheless, the more these good governance followers, such as Champika Ranawaka and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, attack him, the more his strength and power will increase,” Weerawansa said. Commenting further, he challenged the good governance followers to prove the allegations they were making against Rajapaksa. During the rally a message from Rajapaksa was read out by the former Governor Tikiri Kobakaduwa. Despite the low turnout, organisers said the crowd was overwhelming.