Current series of incidents linked to upcoming Presidential polls : Opp. Leader

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has claimed that the current series of incidents unfolding in the country are linked to the upcoming presidential elections which are due in a few months.

Delivering an address at his official residence today (Jun 11), the Opposition Leader recalled that similar acts of violence had taken place in 2014 during the run up to the presidential election. "On January 9, we found that both the perpetrators and victims of those incidents were with the common candidate," Mr. Rajapaksa alleged.

He then claimed that extremism had spread throughout the country since Muslim political leaders are “completely dependent on the Muslim vote” including that of the extremists within their community.

“The spread of extremist ideologies among the Muslim population in this country did not take place all of a sudden,” the Opposition Leader observed. He pointed out that Muslim leaders have allowed extremists to flourish over a long period of time despite several incidents of violence being witnessed in the past.

Mr. Rajapaksa proceeded to note that the government is attempting to record a victory at the upcoming presidential elections by garnering a Muslim vote base around them. He claimed that the collective resignation of Muslim ministers was a ploy by the government to “line up Muslim politicians” on one side and obtain the Muslim vote at the polls.

"Since public attention has been distracted by the mass resignations, the government has managed to sweep many other issues under the carpet," former President Rajapaksa pointed out.

He referred to some examples such as the Central Bank bond scam, debt crisis, extremists, search operations and the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks as some forgotten issues at present.