Candidate contradicts himself

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Export Development and International Trade Minister Professor G.L. Peiris stated that the Opposition candidate of the Presidential Election Sarath Fonseka contradicted his own statements within ten days of his dream to be the next president.

Minister GL Peiris speaking at the press briefing at the Government Information Department said that Fonseka at the outset claimed that his prime objective of contesting for the Presidency was to abolish the Executive Presidency. But he contradicted his own statements within ten days stating that he would enjoy all the powers vested in the Executive Presidency if he was elected and he did not want to be a ceremonial president.

Prof. Peiris said the professionals in the country stated that they did not engage in party politics and just voted at the elections. But on this occasion it will be different as this was an unusual presidential election based on many facts. The first was Fonseka had changed his prime objective for contesting within ten days.

He said that an Executive President implements his own policies as he was elected with the people's mandate. But the Opposition contestant stated that he had no policies of his own but would implement some other's policies. Minister Peiris also noted that Fonseka was successful in the battlefront but was totally inexperienced in politics.

He also stated that Fonseka was the first candidate without a political party who acts on the opinion of other political party leaders.

There were many generals in world history who became leaders in the country but they contested from leading political parties. Prof Peiris remarked that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who eliminated terrorism and restored peace and launched massive development projects to uplift the economy was the only choice for the people.