Hizbullah's run for presidency is a contract : Azath Salley

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Several groups expressed their views over the former governor of the Eastern province M.L.Hizbullah submitting his nomination for the upcoming presidential election. Azath Salley, Leader of the National United Front noted that Hizbullah's nomination for the upcoming presidential election is a contract by Mahinda Rajapaksa. He added that Hizbullah went to SLPP with the hope of joining them and Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to take him in as a group of SLPP priests advised against it and labelled him as an extremist. He went on to note that however, Mahinda Rajapaksa had advised him to run for the presidency and break off approximately 10,000 Muslim votes which Hizbullah exactly intends to do. Salley added that Hizbullah claims that he is contesting to highlight the struggles Muslims are currently facing in the country. UNP MP Thushara Indunil noted that Rathana Thero has joined Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Thero has misled the Sinhala Buddhist community stating that the UNP does not love the country. He further added that Rathana Thero is of the view that Gotabaya Rajapaksa will obtain the vote base of the Sinhala Buddhist community. He added that meanwhile, Hizbullah is contesting the presidential election to hinder their candidate from obtaining votes from the Muslim community. According to the MP, both Rathana Thero and Hizbullah work for the same candidate and are playing two roles on the same stage. He went on to note that Hizbullah who had connections with international terrorist organizations is working for Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Rathana Thero who speaks of Buddhism also serves Gotabaya Rajapaksa.