Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga confirmed that he will take part in the rally in support of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to be held on March 26 at Ratnapura.

Posting a statement on his Facebook page, Ranatunga said that he will arrive in the island at midnight on March 25 to take part in the rally.

He added that 40 UPFA members of Western Provincial Council and 150 members of Local Government Bodies will also accompany him to this rally.

Ranatunga further stated that the people’s support enjoyed by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot be suppressed. He added that Rajapaksa was the hope of SLFP members.

The Western Provincial Council Chief Minister said that they were also able to defeat the indirect order of the SLFP, which instructed members not to take part in rallies organized by other parties.

Ranatunga added that certain individuals in the party will now brand him a fake hero. However, the next election will reveal the fake heroes and the real heroes in the party, he stressed.

Prasanna Ranatunga had earlier stated that he will take part in the second pro-Rajapaksa rally at Kandy on March 6. However, within days of the rally, Ranatunga left the country. He said that he had to leave on an unavoidable trip. Just days before the rally, SLFP had banned its members from attending rallies organized by members of other parties without prior approval.

The pro-Rajapaksa rallies are organized by Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena, National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa, Left Democratic Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila.