"SLPP is a separate branch of SLFP, the only difference is that we did not join forces with the UNP" : Mahinda Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Mahinda Rajapaksa met with the residents of the Hambantota District today (October 20). He received a warm reception from the residents of Sooriyawewa Hambantota when he visited the area. He also declared open a campaign office of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Angunukollapellessa. Speaking to the people gathered he said;

"After the general public rejected us and the issues that we faced they joined forces with the UNP and then we had to go to the opposition with the permission of the President. It is then that we started to go around the country and build the Pohottuwa as a party. So this is only a separate branch of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the only difference is we did not join forces with the UNP. Both our parties have united for this election. But now we heard that Madam Chandrika has returned to the country from overseas. Madam Chandrika is trying to protect the Sri Lanka Freedom Party these days. I think it is already protected. There will be no issues. There is a clear program to sabotage this program. Even the president spoke about this with me, when we met face to face. But I must say that it was not us but Chandrika Kumaratunga and Vijaya Kumaratunga who first broke away from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. We did not break away. It was when they joined forces with the UNP that we sat within the party and worked in the opposition."

Also speaking at the event, the General Secretary of the SLFP, Mahinda Amaraweera says;

"We did not get to talk a lot with Gotabaya Rajapaksa. We only knew that he was a successful official in developing the country and that he was an official who worked under the orders of Mahinda Rajapaksa who saved the country. But when we spoke with him we saw the heritage of the Rajapaksa family and the beauty in him. I must say that he is very pious. He does not even eat a piece of Maldive fish."