Mahinda formally announces Gotabaya's candidacy at SLPP national convention

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Opposition leader and leader of the SLPP formally nominated Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna today (August 11) at the National convention of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna that was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium. Following the nomination, attendees pledged their allegiance to the party. MPs Dilan Perera, Sarath Amunugama, and S.B. Dissanayake who have entered parliament through the national list of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party were also present at the national convention. The National convention of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna was telecast live on Sirasa TV, TV1 and Shakthi TV and was broadcast live on Sirasa FM and YFM. Who is Gotabaya Rajapaksa? He was born on June 20th 1949 and Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa was brought up in Weerakatiya Hambantota. His father D.A. Rajapaksa was a prominent character in Sri Lanka's political sphere. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa are the older brothers of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. A past pupil of Ananda College, Colombo Gotabaya Rajapaksa obtained a degree in information technology from the University of Colombo in the year 1992. A retired military officer, he was appointed as the Defence Secretary of the country in 2005 under the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The first challenge that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced was defeating the terrorists in the country at the time he was appointed to office. He was once the target of a terrorist attack. After the end of the war in 2009, Gotabaya Rajapaksa laid the foundation for the urban development programme in Colombo. Today(August 11) marking a turning point in his political career he will come before the people of the country in a bid to become the first citizen of Sri Lanka. Following the announcement of the candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa SLPP party supporters across the island celebrated the revelation. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa proceeded to the Kelaniya Rajamahaviharaya to obtain blessings following the convention.