Mahinda Rajapaksa

Agreement Already Signed To Name Rajapaksa PM: Premajayantha

August 14, 2015

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said that an agreement has already been reached by senior UPFA leaders to name Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister when the UPFA wins the forthcoming general election.

Speaking at the UPFA rally in Homagama, Premajayantha said that Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Bndula Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena Vasudeva Nanayakkara were among the signatories of the agreement. Premajayantha said that he also signed in the capacity of UPFA General Secretary.

Premajayantha also said that the agreement was signed and sealed in July, on the day the first UPFA rally was held in Anuradhapura.

Rajapaksa Thanks Facebook Campaigners (FULL LETTER)

August 14, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked the social media campaigners who helped him over the past eight years on Facebook and other social media.

Releasing a letter, he said that these campaigners supported him because they loved their motherland. Rajapaksa said that these campaigners created a positive discourse on social media against various mud-slinging campaigns. The country is indebted to these campaigners, Rajapaksa said.

He pointed out that his opponents want to see a weakened nation with no idea of the proud history and culture. The Facebook campaigners helped to fight against this thinking, he said.

Sajith Premadasa's Sister Warns Rajapaksa Against Defamatory Comments

August 14, 2015

Minister Sajith Premadasa's sister Dulanjalee Jayakody sent a letter through her lawyers to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, warning him to refrain from making defamatory remarks about her.

She pointed out that Rajapaksa had claimed that he had intervened to get her released in an alleged foreign currency fraud incident.

However, she made it clear that no such thing happened and she had cooperated with the investigations into the matter. Those who were responsible have been identified as far as she is concerned, Jayakody said.

Therefore, she asked the former President not to repeat his false allegations again in public. If he does, she will be forced to take legal action, Jayakody said.

Two Petitions Filed Against Rajapaksa, Cabraal

August 14, 2015

Two Private petitions were filed by Attorney-at-Law Kalum Kumarasinghe yesterday against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

One of the petitions noted that Rs. 12 billion from the EPF or the Employees Provident Fund was invested in companies owned by those affiliated to the government and losses were incurred.

The other petition alleges that the Sri Lankan economy suffered millions in losses through the purchase of Greek Bonds.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya decided to take the petitions up for hearing today.

However, he also said that it was strange to see such petitions being filed with only a few days to a major election. It was noted that the current Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and his son-in-law were summoned to courts in a separate case.

Pilapitiya directed the two parties could come to an agreement and hold proceedings until the election was over.

He warned that the judiciary should not be used for political purposes.

Rajapaksa's Three Sons Cost Him Votes At Presidential Election, Says Gnanasara Thera

August 13, 2015

Bodu Janasena Peramuna (BJP) leader Galagoda Athththe Gnanasara Thera on Wednesday (12) stated that the defeat of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was caused by activities of his own sons.

Addressing a press briefing, Gnanasara Thera stressed that because of those three sons, Sri Lankan security forces personnel did not vote for Rajapaksa in the presidential election.

Moreover Bodu Bala Sena Executive Director Dilantha Withanage said that it never damaged properties of innocent muslims. The organization did not make any attempt to harm the unity between Sri Lankan communities, he added and said if anyone has an image that BBS is an anti-muslim organization it is because Mahinda Rajapaksa interfered the media of the country.

“Rajapaksa did not allow us to reach state media. That is why people have a wrong image on BBS,” he asserted.

However during the presidential election 2010, the BBS openly supported Mahinda Rajapaksa saying that Rajapaksa was the ‘less-harmful’ leader for the country. But after few weeks of the election Rajapaksa accused that the BBS was nothing but a ‘western conspiracy’ create to defeat him in the election.

Rajapaksa Says He Is Yet To See Sirisena's Letter

August 13, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is yet to see the letter that is said to have been sent to him by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking at the Homagama UPFA rally taking place at this moment, Rajapaksa said that someone informed him of a letter but he was yet to see it. He said that he cannot say anything before seeing it.

Meanwhile, his media coordinator Rohan Welivita had told media that he was yet to receive a letter. If the President wanted to send a letter to Rajapaksa, the best way would have been to send it directly rather than releasing it to media, he had also said.

A letter sent by Sirisena to Rajapaksa was released to media this afternoon. In it, Sirisena revealed many details of the interactions between him and Rajapaksa during the last few months and added that he would not support Rajapaksa to be the next Prime Minister even if the UPFA wins the election.

Rajapaksa Will Not Be Appointed Prime Minister, Sirisena Informs (SEE FULL LETTER)

August 13, 2015

President Maithripala Sirisena wrote to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today and reiterated that even if the UPFA wins the general election, he won’t be appointed Prime Minister.

Writing a lengthy letter, Sirisena said that there were a number of other senior party members who could be appointed as Prime Minister. He did not approve of Rajapaksa seeking to be PM once again after being President for years, Sirisena said.

Sirisena also reminded that he had wanted to lead the SLFP election campaign. However, Rajapaksa’s insistence on being given nominations caused him to retreat for the sake of the party, Sirisena said. Otherwise Rajapaksa would have stormed out of the party, dividing it in the process, the President recalled.

If he had led the party, those who had supported him in the general election would have supported the SLFP, Sirisena said.

The President also revealed that he and Rajapaksa met thrice after the January 8 election. He also revealed that the two had a telephone conversation two days prior to Rajapaksa signing nominations. Sirisena revealed that he promised Rajapaksa a respected retirement. According to Sirisena, Rajapaksa had refused, despite the fact that the majority of his family had supported Sirisena’s gesture.

Sirisena also revealed that he and Rajapaksa had been good friends until Basil Rajapaksa ruined the friendship.

Underworld Figures Returned With UNP Government, Says Rajapaksa

August 13, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the UNP government has brought back the underworld figures which his government had chased away.

Speaking at a meeting in Lunugamvehera, he insisted that the political campaign during the last few weeks was testament to the situation in the country.

Furthermore, Rajapaksa said that the new government had stopped the development work initiated by his government. Most of the work in Hambantota and other less developed regions in the country have been brought to a standstill, he added.

Rajapaksa asked the people to vote for the UPFA to restart the development programmes.

Five Years Leave For Public Servants Is Another False Promise By UNP, Says Rajapaksa

August 13, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said that the promise of five years of leave for the public sector employees was another false promise given by the UNP.

Speaking at a meeting in Hyde Park Grounds in Colombo, Rajapaksa said that the UNP was planning to destroy the public sector.

He alleged that the UNP will end the free health service. Pointing out that hospitals would be put under an authority in a future UNP government, Rajapaksa warned that government and private hospitals would be the same thereafter.

The former President assured that the public sector servants would get a minimum salary of Rs. 25,000 under a UPFA government.

Government Will Exhume Even Prabhakaran's Body If It Wants: Aluthgamage

August 12, 2015

Former Minister and UPFA Kandy District candidate Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the government would exhume even the slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s body if it would ensure victory in the upcoming general election.

Speaking to media he said that the UNP tried to tarnish the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, naming him a thief. However, since the people did not believe the UNP, it is now attempting to brand Rajapaksa as a murderer, Aluthgamage said.

He claimed that the people have realized what the government has done in the previous five month period. Therefore, the UNP will be defeated in the election, irrespective of its election gimmicks, Aluthgamage stated.

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