Minister of Roads and Highways, Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando said former UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera’s decision to withdraw from contesting the upcoming General Election could be a prelude to the first electoral defeat of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Even before the date was announced for the election, Samaraweera informed his decision not to contest the upcoming elections. As a senior politician Samaraweera can identify the pulse of the people. Therefore, he is well aware of the humiliating defeat to be faced by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) at the election. To overcome the blame on the imminent electoral defeat to be faced, a senior UNPer decided to withdraw from contesting, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
He said former MP Samaraweera has clearly showed that he doesn’t approve Sajith Premadasa’s leadership.
He has also admitted that the SJB under the leadership of Premadasa would face a massive defeat at the elections and that he withdrew early. At present, there is a huge internal dispute within the SJB. God cursed them for their political vices committed during the tenure of Yahapalana Government and now the retribution.
Earlier, Samaraweera called upon people in Matara to refrain from casting their preferential votes for him at the upcoming General Election although his name appears on the electoral list as a candidate of the SJB.
He had also expressed his deep regret over the split in the UNP. He stressed the need to launch a movement for a progressive political trajectory in Sri Lanka with those who respect democracy, different social identities and cultural traditions.
Minister Fernando said those who voted for Sajith Premadasa with his misleading false propaganda at the last Presidential Election have realised the truth and most of them would definitely vote for the Government at the upcoming General Election.
He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a leader who always takes straightforward decisions on behalf of the country.
Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, he is the leader who safeguards the lives of all those who voted for him or not. This is the ground reality.
At present, he has been accepted worldwide as a Leader who successfully faced the battle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. However, he never made use of that national disaster for mere political gain. Therefore, we are confident that the people would give an overwhelming majority to the Government at the upcoming elections.