Dambulla, Sri Lanka – In a scathing speech, Matale District MP Rohini Kaviratne lambasted President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his election campaign, accusing him of aligning with individuals responsible for attacks on UNP members during the previous conflict. Speaking at a Samagi Janabalawegaya (SJB) rally in Dambulla, she highlighted a giant cutout of Wickremesinghe near the homes of those she claims were involved in violent acts against UNP supporters in Kiralagolla.
“I cannot comprehend whether to laugh or cry at seeing President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s campaign under these circumstances,” said Kaviratne. She criticized the president’s inability to secure nominations for the UNP in key local elections, particularly in Elpitiya, Galle, questioning how he plans to win a presidential election if he cannot field candidates at the local council level.
Kaviratne also took aim at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, challenging him to clarify which minister intervened to halt Velupillai Prabhakaran during the civil war. She further criticized the president’s decision to appoint Pramitha Tennakoon as the Defense Minister, likening it to “handing over the chicken coop to the fox.”
According to Kaviratne, Sajith Premadasa has secured all postal votes from the security forces and police, a sign of growing support for his candidacy. She also claimed that the UNP is now confined to a small, weakened state, with little presence in Colombo or her home districts of Matale and Dambulla.
Kaviratne criticized the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), accusing the party of violence and intimidation. She recalled instances where JVP thugs disrupted university meetings and resorted to violence to suppress opposition. Kaviratne warned that if Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to power, the JVP’s influence could lead the country into turmoil. She also suggested that even the intellectuals supporting the JVP would be silenced if the party gained control.
She concluded by reiterating her support for Sajith Premadasa, who she says is committed to running a clean campaign, free from corruption and criminal elements. “There is no place in Sajith’s platform for extortionists, drug dealers, or corrupt individuals,” she stated, urging supporters to back Premadasa for a better future for Sri Lanka’s youth and families.
