Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the weakest candidate they could present - Vijitha Herath

Colombo (News1st) - The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna convened a press conference at the party head office in Battaramulla today. JVP MP Vijitha Herath highlighted that the country is crying out for a new alternative force. He stated that the program that has been published with the blessings of the Maha Sangha and the Cardinal has a number of criteria which puts a clear limitation on candidates with lawsuits against them, and also those who currently have cases heard against them. He further reasoned that the country is in need of someone who can adhere to those requirements. According to the MP, the alternative force the people expect is the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. In unison with civil society groups, they are building a National Peoples' Force, he added. He mentioned that an alternative candidate will be presented before the people at the rally to be held at the Galle Face Green on the 18th of this month. Journalists directed a question if Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is a potential challenge to them, to which he replied, "there is nobody here who meets those criteria. Gotabhaya is the weakest candidate the Rajapaksa camp could have put forth. It is not a new thing that he will not be able to change this country". In response to another question regarding the identity of their presidential candidate, he mentioned that the candidate will be presented by the National Peoples' Force. He further highlighted that their candidate is a political activist for they find it unsuitable to have someone who is politically inactive take over a country.