The deputy general secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has declared his support for incumbent, President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election next month.
Speaking at the SLFP headquarters earlier today, Udaya Gammanpila said he could not support the attempts by the UNP to regain power as he feels they will divide the country.
Gammanpila said he will resign from the JHU and join Rajapaksa’s SLFP as he could not support some of the pledges made by the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Responding to the defection, JHU leader Champika Ranawaka said Gammanpila was a "clever politician".
"He is a clever politician. I wish him all the best. Let people decide what kind of a political leadership this country needs now," he said.
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