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(Photos: BBC Sinhala) |
Tens of thousands of supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa staged a rally in Nugegoda, calling on him to stand as a prime ministerial candidate in elections later this year.
In a written statement, read out by former government official Dayan Jayatillake, Mr Rajapaksa said he could not ignore their wishes and will make a return to politics.
"What we are experiencing today is not a defeat but a result of a conspiracy," he said in the message. "I say firmly that I am in anyway unable to ignore the wishes of those of you who think about the country and are committed for the country."
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The National Freedom Front’s Wimal Weerawansa, a former minister under the former president, said the new government's plans to lift travel restrictions to the former northern war zone, moves to release land occupied by the military and a promise to the United Nations to conduct its own inquiry into war crimes allegations risked the country's unity.
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Buddhist nationalist organisation were also well represented at the rally with the Bodu Bala Sena chief Gnanasara and the head of Ravana Balaya Saddatissa both in attendance.
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