News

News

Ratwatte claims undercutting, but vows return
By Chris Kamalendran
Former SLFP strongman Anuruddha Ratwatte who is being left out of the UPFA nomination lists and even the national list yesterday accused his party politicians of undercutting him -- but vowed he would make a comeback.

Though pro-Ratwatte posters had come up in the Kandy district soon after the dissolution, Mr. Ratwatte confirmed yesterday he would not be contesting but he claimed he was keeping out on legal advice connected to the Udathalawinna massacre case, in which he is one of the main accused.

The Sunday Times learns that not only senior party colleagues but also President Chandrika Kumaratunga had been against the nomination of Mr. Ratwatte, who has been in politics for 35 years and was known to be staking a claim for the number two slot during the previous PA administration.

Explaining the reasons why he was keeping out or was being kept out, Mr. Ratwatte said, "If I get involved in the campaign, I may have to skip attending courts. This could lead to the cancellation of my bail and I may have to go back to remand. I know how I suffered nine and a half months inside prison.

"In my political career I have risked my life for the sake of my country and I have achieved something. But at this juncture, spending time at Bogambara or Welikada prison is not for me any more. It is a terrible physical and mental pain. So I took the decision considering these facts."

Mr. Ratwatte, who though remanded for more than nine months was in the Merchants Ward of the National Hospital or the Kandy Hospital for most of the time.

He said yesterday that keeping out of the political scene this time was not a major setback and he was confident of making a comeback as he did before. In addition to the Udathalawinna case, Mr. Ratwatte is also facing a CID probe in connection with the discovery of Rs. 45 million worth of Certificates of Deposits in his private vaults at a bank.

Top

Back to News