Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has accused opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake of attempting to trick the public in order to clinch power. Holding a press conference yesterday at the SLPP head office in Colombo, Abeygunawardena said Premadasa and Dissanayake are both claiming they will take action against thieves and funds have been stolen at every rally they have been attending recently. The SLPP politician said the Good Governance government claimed the same and ruled for five years thereafter. “Dissanayake led the committee appointed to catch these alleged thieves. But show us one thief he has caught since then,” he said, adding that the duo are repeating the same lies in a bid to gain votes and come into power by tricking the people.

Abeygunawardena invited the rival political duo to present their plans for the country instead of merely claiming they will provide relief. “Tell us what your plan is and how one can live without working?” he asked while taking a dig at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the main party of the NPP. “We know their history. Do not attempt to trick the people by playing the same records,” the SLPP leader said. He claimed the SLPP has worked for the people, especially the villages and therefore has no qualms about facing a vote. He expressed his confidence in an SLPP win if the elections are held on March 9 as expected.