‘I was aware of Sajith Premadasa’s defeat before the election’ - Ranil Wickremesinghe

COLOMBO(News 1st) - UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at an event in Galle yesterday said that he was aware of Sajith Premadasa's defeat at the presidential election prior to the election. Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that surveys during the election showed that the candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa was in the lead. He added that when he came to Galle, he informed Vajira Abeywardhena to be careful in Galle and pay close attention at least during the last two to three days. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe's statement that he was aware of the defeat, as MP Hirunika Premachandra claimed that Ranil Wickremesinghe had notified her that Sajith Premadasa was in the lead during a presidential election rally. The Civil Society activists shared their thoughts regarding the contradictory statements made by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Chameera Perera, Convenor of the National People's Council: "This is a funny story. He is going to an area that they won and is saying that we were aware that we were going to lose. He had not done anything about it. This is the leader speaking. It is the same person who is saying let us increase the number of seats from 106 to 113. Is this the person who is going to lead the party at the general election? At the Presidential election, Sajith Premadasa received the candidacy just before 35 days. This is the second step of that same process. When he is certain that they are about to lose, then it is handed over to someone else. Then he blames that person for the defeat. What they are trying to do is to create the opposition that the government wants. They are trying to make the UNP stronghold weak." Milan Perera, National People's Council questioned 'where is the stolen money ?' Then he questioned what has he done for the party as the party leader during his 25-year leadership. He demanded that the leadership be handed over to someone like Sajith Premadasa and go home.