Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Saturday (20) stressed that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was unexpectedly defeated at the presidential election due to ‘a western conspiracies’.

Addressing an event at Minuwangoda, the Chief Minister elaborated that western countries like USA did not want to see the victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa because the former president never acted according to their wishes.

“America did not want the war to end because selling weapons to war affected countries is one of their main incomes. This is why those countries supported opposition to win the presidential election,” he added.

Ranatunga also lashed out at Sri Lanka Freedom Party members who had accepted ministerial portfolios in the government, adding that they have betrayed both party and the former president.