Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella said that the UNPers in the villages are disillusioned by the fact that the party has decided to support a non-UNPer in the presidential election once again. Even some leaders like Sajith Premadasa might either not vote for anyone or even vote for president Rajapaksa, Rambukwella said.

Addressing a meeting yesterday, Rambukwella added that many UNP members are not willing to work for the campaign of common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. This is why he cannot put up posters and banners, and not because he is unwilling to do so, he added.

He added that the UNP made the same mistake in the 2010 Presidential Election by backing Sarath Fonseka and he was defeated by 1.9 million votes. One main reason for such a disastrous defeat was the unwillingness of the UNP members to canvass for Fonseka, he added.

While he acknowledged that the number of cutouts of President Rajapaksa my have exceeded the limit, Rambukwella said that those were not put up by the President's office but by individuals.