UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe challenged former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest the forthcoming general election without running away from the contest.

Speaking at a meeting in Galewela, the UNP leader said that the people defeated the former Rajapaksa regime on January 8.

Wickremesinghe said thet they will not allow the return of the Rajapaksa regime.

However, if Rajapaksa contests, he must name his Cabinet beforehand, including Ministers responsible for 'white vans', ethanol import, drug smuggling and other such areas, Wickremesinghe said.