COLOMBO (News 1st) – In the local political arena thoughts are shared on the who will be the presidential candidate of the United National Party for the upcoming election.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya expressed his views on the matter in an interview with the BBC Sinhala Service and noted that if he is recommended by his party, he would consider campaigning for the presidential election.

Several controversial opinions were shared on the Speaker’s statement to be the presidential candidate.

Ven . Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, Chairman of the National Bikkhu Front noted that he was unable to uphold his duties in his capacity as the speaker of the parliament and he protected Ranil Wickremesinghe under the lie of democracy. The Thero added that no citizen would have faith in Karu Jayasuriya to be a president of the country.

Dr Nalinda Silva, Secretary of the Chinthana Parshadaya shared that when the no-confidence motion against the government was presented before the parliament, the procedure was carried out under a very short period of time, if he was a protector of the democracy he would not carry out the process in such a short time. He requested the general public to be deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing and added that Karu Jayasuriya is the direct representative of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He went on to note that even the Special committee into 4/21 attacks was formed to save Ranil Wickremesinghe and to present the president as the scapegoat of the whole commotion. He added that the committee was formed based on the proposal of the SLPP, although initially there were members of the opposition in the committee they resigned. He went on to note that Karu Jayasuriya, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa should be held accountable for the tragedy that shocked the country.

It is important for one to look back into the political history of the Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya if he is to represent the UNP as the presidential candidate.

• In the early 2007 Karu Jayasuriya resigned from the UNP and joined the Mahinda Rajapaksa government with 18 other senior members of the party and was sworn in as the Minister of Public Administration and Internal Affairs
• In late 2008 he leaves Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government and rejoins UNP and appointed himself as the deputy leader.

As a concerned citizen of the country, the decision is up to you

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