JHU to support Premier

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday pledged support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse for the upcoming Presidential Election, adding to the growing number of parties backing his candidature.

The JHU announced its support to Prime Minister Rajapakse after several rounds of discussions. A formal agreement is due to be signed next week in Kandy.

"We are supporting the Prime Minister on the basis that any solution to the ethnic conflict will be based on preserving the unitary character of the country," JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera told reporters.

Earlier on Monday, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna extended its support to the Prime Minister.