A Sri Lankan government MP has called on the public not to vote for “traitors” and to back incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the upcoming presidential election.

“It is the public that have to decide whether to prolong the freedom that we are enjoying now or to get ensnared in the cruel grip of the LTTE,” said External Affairs Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin Vas Gunawardena.

Hailing Rajapaksa, Gunawardena went on to add,

“The Government created a safe and secure country for all to live freely without intimidation. Accordingly, the people in the North and East are resettled within a peaceful and a developing environment. The people have confidence in President Rajapaksa as he was able to bring the country under a single flag.”

“He created a war free nation. Soon after the defeat of the LTTE, he created an environment for all communities to live as equals in this free country. All communities assisted and supported the President to make this effort a success. The President embarked on an ambitious program to ensure democracy throughout the country, bringing a new political vision that seeks both development and reconciliation to build a new Sri Lankan nation,”

Gunawardena went on to criticise UNP politicians, stating that former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa supplied weapons to the LTTE and current UNP leader Ranil Wikremesinghe “played into the hands of the LTTE terrorists,” reports Daily News.