Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in discussion with religious leaders on contesting as common presidential candidate
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is in discussion with religious leaders who have requested him to be the common candidate in the upcoming presidential elections expected to be held between September 18 and October 18.
Rajapakshe, 65, has been in Parliament for two decades since 2004 and has held various positions including cabinet portfolios. He gained overnight popularity after exposing corruption at state-run enterprises as the Chairman of Parliament Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
In his response to the media over the possibility of becoming a common candidate, he said he is still discussing with religious leaders on that.
“All religious leaders including all Nikayas of Buddhist clergies, Hindu, Christianity and Islam have requested me,” to consider becoming a presidential candidate, he told reporters on Friday (March 29) after visiting Kandy Asgiriya temple.
“I am discussing with those groups. I am ready to take on any challenges on behalf of the country. I have not taken any decision on that. I will make a correct decision after discussing it with all those parties.”
Sri Lanka is yet to declare the date for the presidential poll, but many political leaders and business moguls have already declared themselves as presidential candidates while many leaders have expressed their willingness to become candidates with no backing from key political parties.
-economynext.com
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