"Sajith has come forward for unity of all races" - Former Minister Imtiaz Bakeer Markar

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Minister Imtiaz Bakeer Markar made the following remarks at a rally held in Diyasenpura to support the victory of Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa. The former UNP Minister says;

"Before Lee Kuan Yew passed away he looked at our country and said that the reason behind the set back of Sri Lanka is racism. They beat their chests and scream saying that they are Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. When the election is around the corner they speak of patriotism. They beg for votes. They fight amongst them. They made the Sinhalese language the official language, then the second generation comes forward and changes it and makes Sinhalese and Tamil the official languages. This was after 20 years and thousands have died. They are spreading hatred when the election is close. They spread mistrust. They create doubt. That is how they beg for votes. They speak of racism. But who do they have with them? Karuna Amman who killed monks in Aranthalawa and Pillayan who killed our people. "

He further continued to say,

"If we join a political party that works for democracy, we become traitors. What is this deception. What is this myth that they are trying to spread. We must understand this. We cannot lift our heads if we do not reduce the problems that we have. Sajith has come forward for unity. He has come forward for our nation. He speaks to bring all races together. You all remember how our war heroes were sent to clean drains and sweep roads. When the princes were racing opposite the temple of the sacred tooth relic, they were assigned to pull sand bags. They didnt stop from there. They sold the headquarters and the main centre of the war heroes to the Shangrila Hotel. Are they patriots? Is this what you call patriotism? Our war heroes didnt speak against this, not because they were in favour. But because they were afraid of Gotabaya."