Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila has stated that the Jathika Hela Urumaya has to once again hold talks with prospective presidential candidates like it did in 2005.

He said that the JHU will be looking forward to support a candidate who will accept its policies and serve the nation and country. Gammanpila made these comments on Sunday (28) at the Kandy District Convention of the JHU.

Gammanpila also reminded that prior to the 2005 Presidential Election, the JHU held a meeting at Nugegoda titled “raja bhavathu dhammiko” and pointed out its conditions. After discussions with both Ranil Wickremesinghe of the UNP and Mahinda Rajapaksa of the UPFA, the JHU decided to support Rajapaksa as he accepted its stance, he said.

Furthermore, he added that the JHU had no issues in supporting Rajapaksa in the 2010 Presidential polls as he had delivered on his promises. But now those agreements are not valid anymore, and the party has to rethink, he said.

It was also vital for the JHU to show that it has a vote base which can rival the likes of Rauf Hakeem, R Sampanthan and Thondaman, Gammanpila added.