No one to challenge President

Candidature to be announced at party convention:

M. P. Muthiah

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be the only candidate of the Government at the Presidential Election.

Speaking at a press conference at the Media Centre for National Development, the Minister added that there would be no one to challenge President Rajapaksa.

His candidature will be announced at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party convention.

He said: “People always hope for a trustworthy person to become the President.” Referring to the salary increase, the Minister said the Government had taken a policy decision earlier not to increase the salaries. However, increased salaries for November and December will be paid in January, he said.

The Minister said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed the Ampara District Secretary to pay 76 million rupees as compensation for the affected farmers.

The Media Minister said that the government had given employment to 350,000 people without expecting any benefit from the elections.