Jathika Hela Urumaya Deputy Secretary and Legal Advisor Udaya Gammanpila announced his decision to leave the JHU and support Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election, just three weeks after resigning from his Ministerial portfolio in the Western Provincial Council.

On November 18, he and General Secretary of the JHU Patali Champika Ranawaka resigned from their ministerial portfolios and several days later the JHU extended its support to the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

However, Gammanpila today said at a media briefing at Sri Lanka Freedom Party head quarters that the JHU had joined with forces which are against the country. He said while the JHU did fight for reform, it was not meant to join with reactionary forces.

Several weeks ago, while still in the government, Gammanpila had said that while the JHU will not support Mahinda Rajapaksa if he does not curtail powers of executive presidency, the JHU will not support Ranil Wickremesinghe, whom they had once dubbed as ‘Don Juan’ at a forthcoming presidential election.

He added that he has informed the party leadership of his decision to leave the party and independently support Mahinda Rajapaksa. –

Courtesy:The Nation