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Lion of Ruhuna rows to the top
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s Presidential campaign is being finalized by a committee which will decide on the theme of the campaign and the issues to be taken up, a party spokesman said. It will be an expansion of the existing policies of the party, the spokesman added.

Mr. Rajapakse, with nearly 38 years in politics has assured that he would follow a non-confrontational campaign and avoid mudslinging. At the age of 24 he became the youngest MP being elected from the Beliatta electorate in 1970. Born in Weeraketiya, he was first educated at Richmond College, Galle, and later attended Nalanda and Thurstan Colleges, Colombo before qualifying as a lawyer. He had undergone many hardships and faced many obstacles after his entry into politics. He was defeated in the District Development Council elections in 1985 and was imprisoned on September 27 in the same year.

On March 16, 1992, he led the then Opposition to stage a non-violent protest walk - ‘Paada Yaathra’- from Kataragama to Viharamahadevi Park to convey a strong message to the then government to abide by law and uphold human rights. During the 1988-89 period of terror Mr. Rajapakse was able to draw the attention of the International Commission on Human Rights in Geneva to many violations.

After the victory of the PA Government in 1994, which he was instrumental in forming, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Vocational Training and later Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

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