"I am not surrounded by thieves and swindlers" - Former Army Commander General Mahesh Senanayake

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Army Commander General Mahesh Senanayake was declared as the presidential candidate of the National People's Movement including civil societies at an event held in the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium today (September 29). The event themed "Rata Rakumata Rata Nagumata" was held this evening with the participation of various intellectuals. More than 30 civil organizations, civil activists and intellectuals have joined the National People's Movement. General Secretary of the Sarvodaya Movement Dr.Vinya Ariyaratne, Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe, Nagahananda Kodituwakku, former Director of State Intelligence Service Dr Ajith Rohana Kolonna, Attorney At Law Chrishmal Warnasuriya and other experts were part of this movement. Former Commander of the Army Mahesh Senanayaka was named as the candidate and escorted to the stage by former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe and former Director of State Intelligence Service Dr Ajith Rohana Kolonna. Addressing those gathered, the former Army Commander said that he is committed to bringing the entire country under one law. He also said that during the past month that he was granted with a number of proposals and ideas to be framed into the current political situation of the country. However, he further said that he himself thought for long on how he could tell the people of this country that Sri Lanka is no longer a safe place to live in because the international communities have already understood the importance of this country. He stresses that they should never repeat the same mistake of selling the country's property to foreign nations. He further stressed on the fact that regardless of all the threats that may come his way that he is committed to creating a country in which all citizens could live in a respectable manner. The former Army Commander also stressed on the fact that peace and harmony in the country could only be created through an independent and unbiased leadership. He further highlighted the need to make use of an export-oriented mechanism to develop the economy of the country. General Mahesh Senanayake also claimed that he is not surrounded by thieves and swindlers but by true citizens who love their motherland. Commenting on the country's constitution, he said that it is time that all the present impractical constitutions are brought to an end. He says that the reason why the country's powerful military cannot be utilized properly is that the political leaders are behind all of the crimes happening in this country and that a majority contributes to protecting such criminals.

"At present, the only thing that can be seen in this country are the cries of the uneducated people. Today we begin the uprising of the educated in this country" - he added.

An old boy of Ananda College, Colombo, Mahesh Senanayake joined the Army on 16 October 1981. He was appointed as the Commander of the Army on July 4, 2017, and retired on 20 September 2019, after completing more than four decades of service in the Army. Prior to his appointment as the Commander of the Army, General Senanayaka was a renowned officer serving the nation as Secretary of War, Commander Security Forces - Jaffna and Director of Planning Former Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake, for his service towards the nation was awarded Rana Wickrema, Rana Shura, Wishishta Sewa Wishubhanaya, and Uththama Sewa. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. He is also a graduate of the American College of Command and Staff.