Presidential Candidate – I am willing if nominated: Sarath Fonseka
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said yesterday he was willing to be the presidential candidate if his name was proposed by the United National Party (UNP) led alliance.
“I will have to contest if my party and the UNP-led alliance proposes my name as the candidate,” he said responding to a question asked by a journalist at a media briefing yesterday.
When asked whether he was willing to contest the presidential elections if nominated from another party such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mr. Fonseka said he was not a member of that party.
He said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had made the right choice by selecting former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as its presidential candidate and pointed out that the SLPP has focused on defence which the people are concerned with.
“I am not saying that Mr. Rajapaksa is the most suitable person to become the next president but the SLPP had made the correct choice after reading the people’s mind,” Mr. Fonseka said.
He said there were two candidates willing to contest the presidency at a public rally recently. “One is attempting to use his father’s image on the election platform. The truth is that the LTTE attacked the Sri Lankan Army using the weapons his father gave them. It is his father who ordered 600 police officers to surrender to the LTTE and Karuna Amman, who killed the police officers was seen at the other political camp carrying a Pohotuwa (flower bud)” Mr. Fonseka said.
When asked whether he would not support the UNP Deputy Leader if he was chosen as the presidential candidate of UNF-led alliance, Mr. Fonseka said he would comply with the decision of the UNP leader. “I am a disciplined person and I will agree with the decision of the party and its leader.
However, the party leader should make an informed choice because I cannot get on to the stage and hoodwink the people if a weak candidate is nominated from our camp,” he said.
(Source: Daily Mirror – By Yohan Perera)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways H.M.K.W. Bandara passes away April 23, 2024
- NPP requests confirmation from SJB for proposed debate April 23, 2024
- Two killed in police shooting at Moragahahena April 23, 2024
- Sri Lanka’s inflation eases to 2.5% in March 2024 April 22, 2024
- AirAsia and FitsAir among bidders for SriLankan Airlines April 22, 2024
RW is working to pass the 20th Amendment in Parliament with the combination of UNP and JO Vote.
Aug, Sept are critical months.
The Pohottu was forced by RW to nominate GR but his citizenship renunciation is yet to be accepted in the 2nd quarter list of renunciations published by US Gov.
RW has got Pohottu by the bal**; they have no choice but to support the 20A.
Mr James Preethi,
You are an excellent political analyst.
RW and MR are shrewdest politicians in the nation.
RW knows he can never win a Presidential Election and MR most reluctantly nominated his brother; MR fears his brother will undermine his succession plans for political leadership.
RW quickly organised a SL Passport for GR (he is entitled because GR is a dual citizen) and forced MR to nominate GR as the candidate.
Now, in the US Gov list of renounced citizens for 2nd quarter of 2019, GR is not included and therefore he is still a US Citizen.
MR is now in a pickle because his Presidential Candidate cannot contest as he is the citizen of a foreign country.
The only way forward is to work with RW and the UNP to abolish the presidency through 2/3rd in Parliament and Referendum and conduct Parliamentary election next year and elect the leader of the Party which has a majority in Parliament as the ceremonial President.
There you go, RW becomes ceremonial President next year !!!!
How can he be a president when he does not know to talk like gentleman in meetings, conferences and to the journalists? He talks like a chandiya or like a street fellow.