Former Panadura Urban Council Chairman and Sri Lanka Freedom Party Kalutara District Organizer Nandana Gunathilake said that democracy in a country cannot be assessed by the number of dead bodies. He added that if people have to live in fear, there can be no democracy.

He made these observations in the press conference held to announce his retirement from the UPFA yesterday.

He also said that it was they who brought President Mahinda Rajapaksa to power and it will be they who will campaign to send him home.

Gunathilake, a former member of the JVP and its 1999 presidential candidate, was the first chairman of the UPFA when it was formed. After the JVP left the alliance, he broke away from the party, and joined the SLFP.

“I should have taken this decision earlier. But I did everything possible to turn this Government away from corruption.” Gunathilake added.

He also pointed out that he had actively engaged in the activities of the Pivithuru Hetak Organization and the discussions on fielding a common candidate.