News

Gota accused of being behind Mahinda’s polls defeat

12 Jun, 2017

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accused of being behind the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the last Presidential election.

Minister of Social Empowerment S.B. Dissanayake said that certain actions by Gotabaya Rajapaksa led to?Mahinda Rajapaksa losing Catholic and Muslim votes.

Dissanayake said that 40-45 percent of Catholic votes the Sri Lanka Freedom Party usually got dropped to 25 percent and 15 percent of Muslim votes dropped to 2 percent as a result of the actions of?Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accused of being behind the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and the hate campaign.

Dissanayake said that while?Gotabaya Rajapaksa played a key role to defeat the LTTE, he also created the BBS and hate crimes seen today may also have his involvement.

However in a statement last week Gotabaya Rajapaksa strongly condemned as a false story published irresponsibly by a website renowned for spreading fake news, linking his name with the BBS and Minister for Justice Wijedasa Rajapaksa, in connection with the atrocious burning of Muslim owned shops in the recent past.

“I strongly deny such allegations and decry the attempt to tarnish my reputation once again.?We need have the wisdom to understand the political agenda behind such conspiracies and rise as one nation against such despicable acts aimed at inciting racial disharmony,” he said. (Colombo Gazette)

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