JHU Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thera addressing the common opposition meeting in Colombo this evening said it was a historic opportunity to find a common candidate who can bring about a change.  

Rathana Thera, who also leads the Pivithuru Hetak organization, clearly underscored in his speech that there was no space for an interim agreement between his party and the UPFA government. 

The Parliamentarian told the cheering crowds that 10 MPs  of the government were ready to extend  their support to the common candidate to abolish Executive Presidency. 

Rathana Thera also challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold the presidential election without a constitutional amendment and win it without the support of the Jathika Hela Urumaya. 

Representatives from all the major political parties of the opposition and several civil organizations attended the protest rally. Among them were UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, MP Ravi Karunanayake, MP Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP Politburo member K.D. Lalkantha. 

It was the first time that the two main political parties of the oppositiib , the UNP and the JHU, came together to form a common front after a hiatus of a few years. 

However, the notable absentee of the event was former President Chandrika Bandaranaike whose name has been proposed by some as the common candidate of the opposition.