‘All candidates should certify they are not facing criminal charges’

Beruwala Chief SLFP Organiser M. M Amjad yesterday pledged his support for the victory of NDF Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa.

He was welcomed by former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and UNP Working Committee member, former Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar at the NDF Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa’s election office at Vauxhall Street, Colombo, yesterday.

Amjad said he began his political career as a SLFP Provincial Councillor. However, several SLFPers have deserted their party members and supporters and joined the SLPP to fulfill their private motives. They should have clarified the position of the SLFP Executive Committee before joining with the SLPP, he said. “Today, the SLFP is being destroyed. SLFP members at the village level are helpless and fed up,” he added.

“The SLPP is a party that was born from the undermining of the SLFP. The very leaders who were born within the SLFP have now formed different parties after undermining the SLFP. But the Pancha Maha Balavegaya (five social forces) of SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is with UNF leader Sajith Premadasa. Therefore, I urge all right-thinking SLFPers who do not wish to align with SLPP and who do not want to be subjected to hooting at SLPP events, to come forward and support Sajith Premadasa. Only Sajith Premadasa can create an environment in which all communities can live together,” he said, addressing the news media.

Member of the UNP Working Committee, former Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said he welcomed Beruwala Chief SLFP Orgainser M.M.Amjad to the Sajith Premadasa election campaign. Amjad had taken this decision voluntarily without the influence of anyone, Bakeer Markar said. “He joined with Sajith Premadasa because of the social democratic agenda followed by Premadasa without any dictatorial and fascist ideas.

He will not join with UNP but will support Sajith Premadasa based on his principals,” he added.

SLFP member Chandana Senevirathne, addressing the media, recalled an incident where his house and business was destroyed by Rajapaksa henchmen after he disclosed a financial fraud of nearly Rs.1,650 million when he was employed at the Health Ministry in 2005. “No legal action was taken against the culprits despite my making several complaints to the Police.They also abducted my son and kept him for one year and it was only after local and international pressure that my son was released.

However, my son is still traumatized due to these incidents,” he said.

He said all Presidential Candidates and the 225 MPs should submit Police reports to certify that they are free from any criminal charges.