UPFA MP and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said that, according to Police records, more crowds attended the Kirulapone 'Joint Opposition' rally than the SLFP rally in Galle on May Day.

These people came at their own expense to Kirulapone, wheras people were transported free of charge to the rally in Galle, Weerawansa added.

Speaking to the media of the removal of the army from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's security contingent, Weerawansa said that the government took this move only a day after it was apparent that Rajapaksa cannot be defeated politically.

Weerawansa also recalled that Rajapaksa had provided the maximum security for Maithripala Sirisena when he was a minister under him. "The LTTE terrorist who came to assassinate Sirisena at the time was planning to assassinate him at an event attended by Sirisena. However, Rajapaksa had provided maximum security to his minister and the LTTE terrorist had to change his plans" Weerawansa said. He added that Sirisena was also provided with a bullet-proof vehicle at that time.

Since Rajapaksa cannot be defeated politically, the government has now exposed him to the threat coming from his enemies, Weerawansa accused.