Rajapaksa says SLPP entrusted him to choose presidential candidate

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today (Jul 10) said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has handed him the responsibility of choosing their presidential candidate.

Addressing a meeting at the SLPP office in Colombo, Mr. Rajapaksa said it was important to choose a leader who can create a disciplined country and provide security for the people of all communities.

He had also said that the government was attempting to create communal and ethnic divisions in the country, the SLPP said in a press release.

The former President claimed that the government has an ulterior motive by focusing on the delayed provincial elections when the presidential polls were drawing closer.

During the meeting, former parliamentarian Karuna Amman had opined that terrorism had taken root in the country since the government had restricted the services of the national intelligence.

SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L.Peiris along with MPs Keheliya Rambukwella, S.M. Chandrasena and Rohitha Abeygunawardena too had attended the meeting.