The Bodu Bala Sena organization today officially extended its support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the forthcoming presidential election. 

Addressing a media conference in Colombo, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said the organization would use its maximum strength to defeat common candidate of the opposition, Maithripala Sirisena.

 Gnanasara Thera also pledged to ‘go around the country’ to ensue the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who, according them, is a national leader.

“We invite Mr. Maithripala Sirisena to come back to the government,” Gnanasara Thera said addressing the press conference in Colombo this morning.  It was widely believed that the hardcore Buddhist organization would extend its support to the government as its General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera strongly criticized Atghuraliye Rathana Thera when the latter defected from the government.

The organization previously stated that the BBS would announce its position on the forthcoming presidential election today.

The BBS also criticized those who have already extended support to the common opposition, claiming they are stakeholders of an international conspiracy against the country.

Speaking to Asian Mirror after the press conference, BBS stalwart Dilantha Vithanage said although the organization has decided to support the President, they would not join the election campaign of the UPFA. “The BBS” he said, “will lead a separate campaign to ensure the victory of the President.”

According to Vithanage the BBS decided to support President Rajapaksa on the grounds that there was a “conspiracy” to reverse the victory of war through foreign pawns and dollar-funded campaigns.