Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was responsible for the mal-practices that took place under his government and that he should be the first defendant in corruption charges against his government.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, he said that although his supporters are still harping about the 57 lakhs (5.7 million) votes won by Rajapaksa in the recent presidential election, those votes were obtained by running an asymmetric campaign. Blatant use of state property and state media and a staggering expenditure was what helped him gain that much votes, Ranawaka added.

Furthermore, Ranawaka said that there was a campaign which is attempting to blame others who were in the government and whitewashing Mahinda Rajapaksa. His brother Basil Rajapaksa, who had left the country already, is the main scapegoat of this group, Ranawaka added. However, he was aware of what happened in the seven years he was a Cabinet Minister, and he saw how the former president behaved, Ranawaka said. Mahinda Rajapaksa should be punished for his government’s corruption and mal-practices, Ranawaka stressed.