The defence secretary of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called on Sri Lankans to use the forthcoming Western and Southern Provincial Council elections to show that the people are supportive of his brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while speaking during an election rally in Colombo.

Speaking about next month’s UNHRC session in Geneva, Gotabhaya said that the ultimate objective was to remove the president from power and topple the government, in order to install a government which will act according to western interests, and enable them to spread their political power and dominance in the Indian Ocean, reported the Daily Mirror.

“They know that with the current regime and President they cannot divide this nation or fulfill their political agendas. So this upcoming election is a good opportunity for Sri Lankans to show that they are with President Rajapaksa and the government,” he said.

“We have rehabilitated 12,800 LTTE cadres and released them into the society. We have built houses and resettled people in the North while thousands of houses have been allocated for low-income families in Colombo without considering their nationalities, religions or political parties. We held PC elections in the North and appointed their representatives into power. So we have practiced good governance instead of just talking about it and limiting it to words.”