Kurunegala District UNP candidate team leader and party spokesman Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today challenged his counterpart, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for an open debate.

 

Speaking at a media conference, Kariyawasam said that he was ready to debate with the former President on the promises he is making today. He asked as to why the former President could not carry out his promises during his tenure.

 

Kariyawasam also said that Rajapaksa was realizing certain problems faced by the people only after he lost power. He pointed out that during the last ten years, Rajapaksa lived a life of comfort while the people had to suffer from high prices of goods and other problems.

 

Kariyawasam also pointed out that Rajapaksa has now fallen to the state of merely canvassing for preference votes and added that there was a three way battle between Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando and Dayasiri Jayasekara for preference votes in UPFA Kurunegala District list.