Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka has stated that when Maithripala Sirisena is elected as the next president, the taxes on petrol and diesel will be removed.

Speaking earlier today at a rally in Avissawella, Ranawaka stated that although the president claims to be sensitive to the needs of the people, he has imposed a tax of Rs 52 on one liter of petrol and Rs 17 on one liter of diesel.

He further stated that the country was being run by the five evils of casino, ethanol, heroin, cigarette and arsenic mafias. The money illegally earned by these mafias is used to put up posters for the election, he added. Therefore the president has to be defeated in order to defeat the five evils, Ranawaka argued.

He also said that the country has a multitude of problems. Forty percent of vegetables were being imported. There was a housing crisis. Several months without rain causes droughts while several days of heavy rains causes floods. The country is approaching an energy crisis. Ranawaka asked if such a country can be described as a developed country.