Western province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday declared that he would participate at today’s Nugegoda meeting organised by some of UPFA’s constituents calling for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return to active politics.

The National Freedom Front (NFF), the MEP and the Democratic Left Front (DLF) want the SLFP to declare Mahinda Rajapaksa as the UPFA’s prime ministerial candidate.

Ranatunga said that he couldn’t turn his back on the former President after having faithfully supported his recent presidential election campaign.

Ranatunga pointed out that the likes of Azath Sally had ridiculed the former President by claiming that the Nugegoda meeting wouldn’t attract even 5,000 persons.

Meanwhile, former President’s spokesman Mohan Samaranayake told The Island yesterday that various interested parties had been propagating lies to undermine Rajapaksa’s political career. Samaranayake emphasised that there was absolutely no basis for recent speculative reports that the former President had confided to some close associates that he wasn’t keen to continue in politics.

Referring to a letter dated Feb. 14 sent by the former President to the SLFP Central Committee, Samaranayake said that the veteran politician had stated in no uncertain terms that he remained with the party and wouldn’t desert supporters under any circumstances.

Courtesy:The Island