Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga stated that UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha released the statement on granting nomination to Mahinda Rajapaksa without the approval of President Maithripala Sirisena.

 

Updating a status on his Official Facebook Page, Ranatunga said that Sirisena refused to sign the original copy of the statement. Therefore Premajayantha released a different copy with his signature, Ranatunga said.

 

Ranatunga claimed that Premajayantha made this announcement since he was blackmailed by certain parties by threatening to reveal documents related to a fradulent transaction during the Rajapaksa regime.

 

He added that if the UPFA is to give nomination to Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLFP also has to approve it. However, neither Maithripala Sirisena nor former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has given any approval, Ranatunga pointed out. He added that this decision was taken by Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa and others.

 

The truth will be revealed in the near future, Ranatunga said in conclusion.