Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa dismissed concerns about the loss of his official residence and reduced security, stating that he would not “whine” over such matters. He attributed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to remove police officers assigned for his protection and revoke his official residence to demands made by the Tamil diaspora, which he claimed supported Dissanayake in the election.
Rajapaksa emphasized the importance of remembering the past, recounting how his government and the armed forces brought an end to the terror unleashed by the LTTE. He cited incidents like the Central Bank bombing, the Air Lanka attack, and the bombing of Colombo, claiming they were halted under his leadership. He also reminded the public of the sacrifices made by soldiers, with sealed coffins arriving weekly in villages during the conflict.
Rajapaksa highlighted his government’s role in stopping the LTTE’s killings of thousands of civilians, including prominent figures like former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
Addressing the government’s actions, Rajapaksa warned that the public’s reaction in the upcoming elections would reflect their opinion on the withdrawal of security and privileges from a former head of state who remains vulnerable to security threats. Despite this, he insisted he would not complain or seek sympathy over the loss of his security detail or official residence.
