Janaka says ready to serve nation
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is backing several Sri Lankan expat groups seeking to put forward their own candidate for the forthcoming Presidential elections, among whom is former Army chief-of-staff Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera currently serving as ambassador in Indonesia.

Speaking on the telephone from Jakarta, Maj. Gen. Perera was non-committal as to whether he would present himself if these groups backed his candidature.He refused to confirm or deny reports that the JHU leadership had contacted him and requested him to contest the presidential elections.

He told The Sunday Times he did not belong to any political party, but confirmed that many Sri Lankans had asked him to join the presidential race.
"But I have told them that I will always be there to serve my country and my people if the nation is united to go forward in seeking peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity. I am prepared to serve in any capacity,” he said, but stopped short of confirming that he would in fact contest the presidential elections.

Top

Back to News

| Front Page | | News | | Editorial | | Columns | | Sports | | Plus | | Financial Times | | Mirror Magazine | | TV Times | Funday Times |

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.