Addressing a gathering of Kandy District UPFA local councilors, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed to remain in politics despite all challenges and harassment.

He pointed out that the government had used the Money Laundering Act, which he introduced to curb financial transactions by LTTE terrorists, to arrest his son. The Act was used to defeat terrorism at that time. It is now used to imprison the son of the leader who defeated terrorism, he added.

Speaking about his decision to remain in politics, Rajapaksa said that he had retired after the defeat at the January 2015 Presidential Election, not to return to politics. However, he was continuously attacked by te government, he added. Thereafter, the UPFA MPs started demanding his return to politics and he decided to do so at their behest, Rajapaksa claimed.

He has no intention of retiring as of now, Rajapaksa stressed.