JHU awaits PM's reply

by Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Jathika Hela Urumaya is awaiting a reply from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on his position on the twelve principles presented by the JHU based on which it will support Rajapakse at the forthcoming Presidential Election.

The principles are now being studied by the Premier who is expected to communicate his decision to the JHU today(6), Chmapaka Ranawaka, General Secretary of Jathika Hela Urumaya said yesterday.

Asked if their party would forward its own candidate to contest the election if the response from Rajapakse was against their policies, Ranawaka maintained that they had not yet selected any such candidate to contest the election.

He said, " The JHU has not made any decision to nominate former Major General Janaka Perera or any other as a candidate."

He said that the JHU would announce its position after they receive a reply from Prime Minister Rajapakse today as expected.

"The Prime Minister told us he would inform his position to the JHU leadership today," he said .

" We had also been informed that the date of the election would be declared on September 7. We plan to announce whether the JHU would extend its support to Rajapakse the next day after the election is announced by the Elections Commissioner," he said.

Asked if they were expecting the Prime Minister to agree to all their proposed policies , Ranawaka said that they expect the Prime Minister to agree to some of the key principles.